Comcast announces a new UHDTV set-top box that may finally launch 4K into the mainstream

Comcast has announced that it will be launching a new 4K UHDTV set-top box, which will bring content that has 4x the resolution of standard 1080p. With more and more manufacturers releasing UHDTVs, this is a great time to get in on 4K. The entertainment conglomerate has plans for increasing its 4K content as well…

This follows Comcast’s release of 4K content to Samsung UHDTVs last year. This will further bridge the gap between the standard issue 1080p and the next generation of entertainment. While the Xi4 4K cable box will support the higher resolution content, Comcast will also be bringing a new HDR receiver that will bring “increased color, contrast and brightness”.

Comcast states that it will be adding “hundreds” of titles to its catalog of UHD content. This will include films from IMAX and other Giant Screen Theaters, as well as a number of television shows as well. Current subscribers will also find “on demand access to full current seasons of some of the season’s hottest shows” according to Comcast.

This is a step in the right direction towards bringing 4K movies and televisions shows to more living rooms across the country. Third-party services are now offering UHDTV content, including Amazon which got on board in the last year. It appears that now more than ever is the time to get board with 4K.

[9to5-press-release]

COMCAST TO LAUNCH 4K ULTRA HIGH-DEFINITION SET-TOP BOX

Comcast today announced that it will launch a 4K ultra high-definition (UHD) set-top box later this year as it brings the Xfinity in UHD catalog to the X1 platform. The new X1 set-top box, the Xi4, will deliver Xfinity TV customers 4K UHD content—four times the resolution of high-definition—directly to the television, enabling X1 customers to enjoy unlimited virtual 4K linear channels by creating personalized playlists from the Xfinity in UHD library. Customers will also enjoy high dynamic range (HDR) programming—increased color, contrast and brightness—with the launch of a new HDR set-top box, the Xi5, next year.

“With Xfinity in UHD, our customers can easily and seamlessly enjoy some of the best 4K programming available today as part of their subscription with no additional equipment or costs,” said Matt Strauss, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Video Service for Comcast Cable. “We are committed to providing the highest-quality entertainment experiences across platforms and our next-generation set-top boxes deliver on that promise—providing our customers with UHD and HDR programming on the biggest screen in the home.”

Comcast will add hundreds of titles to the Xfinity in UHD catalog and library, including films originally produced for IMAX® and other Giant Screen Theaters from K2 Communications and Havoc TV like The Ultimate Wave Tahiti, Antarctica, Rocky Mountain Express, Fighter Pilot and Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia. Full current seasons of hit TV shows such as Syfy’s Defiance; USA’s Playing House, Satisfaction and Suits; and original programming from STARZ including Outlander and Power will also be included.

Initially launched last year on 2014 Samsung UHD TVs, Xfinity in UHD offers one of the biggest and best 4K libraries available today, providing Xfinity TV customers with on demand access to full current seasons of some of the season’s hottest shows, Giant Screen films and more at no additional cost.

[/9to5-press-release]

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