Netflix Starts Testing 4K Ultra-HD Videos Ahead of 2014 Launch

Netflix has started testing 4K Ultra-HD videos ahead of its planned launch in 2014, reports GigaOm.

The company has added seven test videos to its catalog. The footage includes people riding bikes, a market, kids playing in a fountain, and more. One video is called El Fuente: 24MP. It's description reads, "an example of 4K at 24 frames per second."


In the company's last earnings call, CEO Reed Hastings said that Netflix wants to be "one of the big suppliers of 4k next year." Netflix will likely launch 4K video with its own content; however, it's expected to work on licensing content from its partners as well.

Late last month, Netflix announced that all members now have access to their highest quality 'Super HD' video streams. Super HD applies less compression to 1080p video making the picture look better on HD screens with a higher bit rate stream. Super HD videos are supported by the Apple TV; however, a hardware update might be required to support 4K video.