At a sit-down with Sony CEO Kaz Hirai, the company head spoke on the new products and services announced at CES 2014, some of which were just introduced today. One of the more interesting developments on center stage was the announcement of a new streaming cloud TV service that could be Sony's first real initiative to take on the living room in a cohesive manner.
Hirai was tight-lipped when discussing the service's features or Sony's partnerships, but he was quick to defend against the notion that Sony's cloud TV would be running up against cable providers. "We're not trying to compete with the cable operators — we're trying to resolve one of the biggest hurdles, which is watching live TV and streaming content on different devices." However, he did note that on live TV broadcasts, there was a chance for friction. "Everybody's been talking about it, I don't think anyone has been able to do it," Hirai said, describing a system that could, when all is said and done, look a little something like what Microsoft is trying to do with the Xbox One.
Unlike Microsoft's push, Hirai focused on the installed user base of the PS3, suggesting that when the service does come to customers it will be modular and will allow TV viewing across several of the company's products. "I know Intel was in this space as well, but from my perspective, when you look at the installed base of the PS3 — 25 million in the US — when we're talking to a lot of the broadcasters, it's a compelling number."
When asked about the company's 4K push in both content and technology, Hirai sees a slow climb to mainstream adoption. "How long did HD take?" Hirai asked, as he suggested mainstream adoption of 4K could take five to seven years. Sony doesn't see its 4K business as only for the mainstream, however — Hirai pointed out that early adopters are very much a part of its plans, and the need to get those adopters into retail stores to see the difference between HD and 4K is crucial to the selling process.
Comments
Even after 7 years 4k TV’s will cost way too much.
By TheSebianoti on 01.07.14 4:03pm
Highly doubtful considering many large 4k tv’s cost less than 40" plasmas’ did when I worked at future shop bak in 2004.
Reference, Pioneer plasma’s costing $18,999, only 720p.
By Dube on 01.07.14 4:06pm
You can get a Sekio 39 inch 4k tv for 800ish. I have one, its amazing.
By a1088245se on 01.07.14 5:23pm
I’ve seen those for $500ish on Amazon. The 50 inch around $800 if I remember correctly. Saw some people I follow on Twitter talking about getting the 50 inch for a thousand from a particular site. Didn’t want to make them feel like shit showing them Amazon had the exact same model at a lower price.
By JustinEatingBacon on 01.07.14 8:27pm
But it is not a Sony or LG model yet.
By richardginn on 01.07.14 9:00pm
Current Samsung and LG have 55" 4k TV’s are for sale at Best Buy for around $3000. I would not be surprised if this upcoming generation drops into the level where people start seriously considering them. ($1500-$2000) 2007 seems to be the big year that people really started adopting HDTV’s and those were the years 46-50 inchers sold for $1500-$2000.
Color me surprised but it seems 4K is coming on a lot faster than the first generation HD did. Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, etc all streaming 4K content will make this stuff real and accessible to a lot of people. They can move a lot faster than the slow cable companies and physical media standards boards.
By minimalist on 01.07.14 6:09pm
Wonder if there’ll be some kind of 4k upgrade for physical media.
By Gideon Waxfarb on 01.08.14 3:36am
Blu-ray and hdmi 2.0 can accommodate 4k but obviously everyone would have to upgrade their players and hdmi cables (and for me, my AVR). So that kind of adoption might be harder to achieve. 4k might just be the thing that finally gives streaming the competitive edge over physical media and cable.
By minimalist on 01.08.14 8:47am
Current Hi-Speed HDMI cables will work with HDMI 2.0:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2423946,00.asp
By Socks_with_Holes on 01.08.14 10:02am
the cables aren’t that important. They are like 5 bucks from amazon. The connections the cables go into however, like the 700 dollar AVR I really don’t feel like replacing just yet, is a problem.
By minimalist on 01.08.14 3:09pm
Cable cost isn’t why this is important: It’s important because of people who may have their HDMI cables installed in the wall. This way, they can replace their TV easily.
By Socks_with_Holes on 01.10.14 10:25am
When I started working at best buy around 10 years ago, first really awful 42" plasmas were around. I forget the model number, but the first pioneer elite 50" 1080p was I believe 25,000…then quickly dropped to 20,000…and it was just a monitor. profhd1 sounds vaguely familiar.
By simbadogg on 01.08.14 11:54pm
Nope. I saw a Samsung at Best Buy for $4000.
By BranFlake30 on 01.07.14 4:07pm
I bought a 55" Sony 4K for 2.9K AUD after Cashback.
Not bad at all, only going to get better.
By Zaitt on 01.07.14 4:24pm
I doubt it 4k tvs have really dropped in price especially this christmas/after christmas season you can get a large one for $4k already
By Stylinred on 01.07.14 4:34pm
How is that affordable by the average person working on minimum wage? it’s not.
By TheSebianoti on 01.07.14 5:17pm
“The average person” isn’t working for minimum wage, and anyone working for minimum wage probably shouldn’t be blowing $4000 on a TV, unless they have no other obligations.
But, I agree, spending 4 grand on a TV is too much for most middle wage earners
By you don't know me on 01.07.14 5:40pm
You’re changing goalposts. Stop it.
It doesn’t have to be affordable to the average person working minimum wage right now.
It has to be affordable to the average person working minimum wage in seven years. Which, as many of these comment have already shown, is set to occur faster than the price fall of 720p and 1080p TVs from seven years ago.
By CaseyPoney on 01.07.14 5:40pm
For a year. Prices have already come down immensely. The downward curve in pricing and upward curve in adoption will be far faster than we’ve seen for previous new technologies.
By alexanderwood on 01.07.14 11:03pm
in 7 years I’ll be buying my brand-new Sony Hologram TV
By kennyamr on 01.07.14 4:05pm
Hoping to get Hologram content in like 7 more years.
By armando_rod on 01.07.14 4:05pm
When you do, let the Wookie win…
By locomoco on 01.07.14 6:19pm
If they’re not competing with cable, does that mean they won’t be streaming cable? What else is there to live stream other than OC?
By challengeaccepted on 01.07.14 4:06pm
Cable isn’t even 1080p after 10 years, it’s clear they aren’t competing with that.
By dagamer34 on 01.07.14 4:23pm
Whats wrong with competing with cable?
By Zubieta on 01.07.14 4:10pm