I'm a Believer

I guess it was 3D that made me sketchy. 3D's quiet fade-to-black was not really covered heavily by us media types. Maybe it will be back. But I'm not feeling it. And 4K ... well, I thought it wasn't gonna grab on, either. By that I mean, how many pixels can an eye take?

I thought HD was enough. Plenty. It took me a month to just get used to POHD (Plain Ol' High Def), and ever since football season ended, I can't imagine ever going back to analog. (Side note: I think NFL Red Zone is the best thing to happen to sports entertainment, ever.)

But then I was at NAB ... and I saw a 4K demo. The demo was of Carnival in Rio, and the tight shots of the costumes and colors were ... well ... mind-blowing. There was one incredibly costumed female dancer with amazing makeup and headdress ... and when I saw the detail, I got it.

To quote the Monkees: "I saw her face. Now I'm a believer."

I really see the advantages of 4K in sports and outdoor settings, in which I believe it is starting to take hold, especially overseas. Soccer (football) and tennis have been covered, and the Olympics in Sochi as well. I can really see the impact of 4K in hockey. With such a fast-moving sport and an object that can travel 120 mph, the more pixels, the better. The higher the definition, the better the user experience.

And it's all about the users.

Challenges? Sure. The consumer market has to ship a ton of 4K-capable TVs, and the usual cost-curve will apply. The early adopters will pay a fortune, and the rest of us will buy Vizio in three years. But retail cameras are already selling as 4K-capable ... a sure sign of success.

So put me on the bandwagon and let's see 4K - and it's attendant enabler, HEVC - once again boost our business.

I'm a believer. And it's a great time to be in this industry.