Amazon Studios Says All 2014 Original Content Will Be Shot in 4K
Amazon’s original film and TV production unit, Amazon Studios, plans to shoot all 2014 original series in 4K Ultra HD, it said Monday, joining Netflix as a streaming video provider getting a head start on broadcasters and cable networks to 4K content distribution.
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"As a premium original content creator, we're excited about 4K and the future of Ultra HD technology, particularly as we move into drama series next year,” said Roy Price, director of Amazon Studios. All Amazon Studios pilots and series produced next year, including dramas and comedies, will be shot in 4K, Price said. Amazon Studios announced earlier this year that it will launch five new comedy and drama pilots in 2014.
Netflix has been experimenting with 4K content, following its announcement at last CES that “streaming will be the primary way consumers receive Ultra HD 4K” and Netflix would be among the first to deliver Ultra HD 4k to consumers in first half 2014. Netflix has said its original series, House of Cards, will be produced in 4K. A spokesman said Monday he couldn’t provide further details on his company’s 4K plans.
Amazon will make customers part of its original series process, inviting them to watch, provide feedback and help determine which of the pilots should be produced as series to air on Prime Instant Video and Amazon’s LOVEFiLM in the U.K., it said. The slate of Amazon pilots for 2014 includes The After from The X-Files’ Chris Carter; Bosch, based on the Harry Bosch book series by Michael Connelly; Transparent from Six Feet Under producer Jill Soloway; Mozart in the Jungle from Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman and Alex Timbers; and The Rebels from Kevin Iwashina, Jeremy Garelick, Constance Schwartz, Matt Alvarez and former New York Giants’ football player Michael Strahan, co-host of Live with Kelly and Michael.
To help educate customers about 4K, Amazon bowed a 4K Ultra HDTV Guide at www.amazon.com/4K that has information about the differences between 4K and HD, an HD pixel comparison chart, a visual comparison of Ultra HD and HD, factors that affect picture quality and a guide on relevant terminology.
Ultra HD TV maker LG applauded the Amazon announcement. LG anticipates “significant growth in the Ultra HDTV category for 2014, with industry sales expected to top 800,000 units,” Vice President John Taylor told us. Most viewing will involve upscaling, “but availability of native 4K content will also help drive the market,” he said. “Developments like this that broaden the 4K ecosystem are great news for Ultra HD consumers in 2014 and beyond,” he said.