Roku is adding its first 8K channel to its lineup: The Explorers. 8K TVs and 8K content, in general, have been relatively sparse. For the most part, 4K is the norm when it comes to both content and televisions. Heck, most traditional TVs are still playing in 720 or 1080, with very few only now hitting 4K resolution.
Not only are 8K TVs and content hard to find, but 8K TVs are relatively expensive. The new screen resolution is relatively new and is definitely 'bleeding edge' technology. Most forms of 8K content are coming in the way of streaming, and 8K streaming requires at least an 80 Mbps connection, which isn't commonplace in American households yet. That's 8K at 30 frames per second at standard dynamic range. 8K at 60fps or 8K with HDR, Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos will likely require an even faster connection.
But that won't stop providers from offering 8K content. According to Engadget, Roku is launching a new 8K channel called The Explorers. The channel will run $3 a month and feature nature content in that sweet 8K resolution in HDR. The report says that one-third of that subscription will be donated to The Explorers Foundation, "which aims to preserve biodiversity." According to TCL on Twitter, the first TVs to gain access to the channel are TCL's 6-Series 8K TVs, available in 65- and 75-inch sizes.
Similar to the jump from 1080p to 4K, the leap from 4K to 8K will offer up to four times more resolution. At the time of writing, YouTube seems to be the best place to find 8K content. But that's the price to pay to be an early adopter. If consumers are looking to buy a new TV today and want to future-proof their investment, buying an excellent 4K OLED or miniLED TV would be a better bet than investing in an 8K TV right now.
At the very least, it will be a few years before 8K movies or TV start to come to market. It will be at least a few years after that before 8K content will take off and become mainstream. And by then, excellent 8K TVs won't cost you an arm and a leg to purchase. To take this a step further. The latest HDMI 2.1 spec only supports 8K at 30fps. Gamers wanting 8K at 120fps or higher will be waiting a hot minute before there will be cables, let alone game consoles, that can hit high frame rates at 8K.
Source: TCL/Twitter, Engadget
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