Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

DirecTV beats cable companies to 4K, will offer 19 movies Friday, live TV to come

By

directv drops 4k bomb announces launch date first pay tv service samsung
Image used with permission by copyright holder
DirecTV dropped a high-resolution bomb today, announcing that its new 4K TV service will launch Friday on select Samsung 4K/UHD TVs. The service will begin with 19 titles from Paramount Pictures and K2 communications, highlighted by the big-budget visual spectacles Transformers: Age of Extinction, as well 2009’s Star Trek.

As expected, DirecTV’s new 4K service will begin with a whisper rather than a roar, requiring a very specific combination of hardware, including DirecTV’s Genie HD DVR, and a Samsung 4K/UHD TV that is certified “DirecTV 4K ready.” Details about which Samsung TVs will be compliant with the new service have yet to be disclosed.

Recommended Videos

The first of its kind in the pay-TV universe, DirecTV’s new video on demand 4K service is something of a testing ground for the company’s planned launch of a handful of live 4K channels, slated for rollout in 2015. The plans for the more robust service next year were disclosed by DirecTV CEO Mike White during the company’s third quarter earnings call, as reported by Multichannel News.

Related

Comcast is expected to launch its own 4K service next year as well, but with today’s announcement, DirecTV threw the first punch in the fight for resolution domination by cable and satellite providers.

The full list of titles for DirecTV’s fledgling lineup include special-effects dazzlers like the aforementioned Transformers film, along with older re-mastered movies including Forrest Gump, Amistad, McLintock!, and The Terminal.

Following Netflix’s lead, DirecTV will also host a handful of nature films and documentaries, including The Last Reef, Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs, Antarctica, Dolphins, Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag, Dinosaurs Alive!, Coral Reef Adventure, Space Junk, Yellowstone, Legends of Flight, Rescue, The Ultimate Wave Tahiti and, Mysteries of the Great Lakes.

Today’s news is a coup, not only for DirecTV, but also for Samsung, which has seemingly supplanted Sony as the go-to technology for all things 4K. Comcast’s forthcoming 4K service is also slated for launch on Samsung TVs, and just yesterday, Samsung and VOD service M-Go announced a joint venture for a new 4K pay-per-view service that will begin with a few titles, ramping up to around 100 4K movies and TV shows by year’s end. Add in 4K services from Netflix, and Amazon’s anticipated new offering, and things are looking pretty good for consumers who’ve chosen Samsung TVs as their launching pad for the new 4K era.

Just a short time ago, Sony 4K/UHD TVs held the majority of the 4K cards thanks to the company’s proprietary Video Unlimited service, which harbors a hefty number of titles, approaching 200. But Samsung appears to be quickly moving into the driver’s seat, locking in exclusive deals with a number of companies to be the showcase technology for the dazzling new resolution.

While today’s move is little more than a stepping stone towards the resolution of tomorrow, DirecTV takes honors as the first service of its kind to test the 4K waters. We’ll be keeping tabs on this story as new developments unfold, so stay tuned.

Editors' Recommendations

Ryan Waniata
Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
Best TCL TV deals: 4K TVs as low as $150
TCL's 5-Series 4K QLED Google TV.

The best TV brands make a number of TVs at different price points, and whether they utilize QLED or OLED technology, they almost universally produce an high quality image. One problem with shopping some of the more traditionally-known TV brands can be the cost. TCL, however, offers picture quality and affordability among its TV. When you shop TCL TV deals you can save even more, as TCL TVs are frequently found among the best TV deals taking place. We’ve rounded up the best TCL TV deals below, in a wide variety of sizes, from 40-inch TVs to 85-inch TV deals, with the most common being 55- and 65-inch TV deals. When you've found the right TV, pair it with cheap soundbar deals and subwoofer deals to complete your budget home theater setup.
Today’s best TCL TV deals

TCL 40-inch 3-Series 1080p HD TV —
TCL 50-inch 4-Series 4K TV —
TCL 55-inch 4-Series 4K TV —
TCL 55-inch Q6-Series 4K QLED TV —
TCL 65-inch S-Series 4K TV —
TCL 55-inch Q7 4K QLED TV --
TCL 75-inch S-Series 4K TV —
TCL 65-inch Q7-Series 4K QLED TV —
TCL 85-inch S-Series 4K TV —
TCL 65-inch QM8 4K QLED TV --
TCL 98-inch S5 4K TV --

Read more
Best Samsung TV deals: Save on 4K TVs, QLED TVs, OLED TVs, 8K TVs
A person watching a Samsung TV.

Sorting through some of the best TV brands is a great way to start a search for a new TV. Samsung comes in at the top of many people’s list, and the electronics giant has a lot to offer if you’re looking for a new TV for your living room, basement, or home theater setup. Samsung regularly kicks out some of the best TVs you can buy, and it offers some great value as well, as it regularly has models among the best TV deals. Currently you can find a number of Samsung TV deals out there. They include 4K and 8K TVs, as well as TVs utilizing a number of different picture technologies such as OLED and QLED. We’ve tracked down what we feel are the best Samsung TV deals to shop right now, including OLED TV deals and QLED TV deals. There is even one Samsung The Frame TV deal. Read onward for more details on how to save, and don’t be shy about making a purchase if you see a deal you like, as there’s no telling how long these deals will last.
Samsung 65-inch QN85C QLED 4K Smart TV — $1,300, was $2,000

We find the QN85C to be sitting at just about the perfect price for a TV right now, while still maintaining the qualities and freshness of a much more quality TV. While it is 4K, it uses mini-LED tech, which allows for fine-tuned light control. Remember that the best QLED TVs are typically renowned more for their brightness than contrast; this tech can tip that need for contrast in the QN85C's favor. Other great features of this TV include audio with Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound, 4K upscaling, and motion acceleration to keep fast moving content smooth.

Read more
Walmart has a 50-inch 4K TV for under $230 right now
Hisense R6 Series 4K TV with remotes pointed at it.

Walmart frequently has some of the best TV deals out there, and that’s the case today with a sweet deal on a Hisense 50-inch R6 4K TV. Usually $258, it’s currently down to $228 making it even better value than before. It’s the ideal TV for anyone on a tight budget or for those people looking for a new TV to add to their den, child’s bedroom or even kitchen. Here’s what you need to know before you buy it -- but bear in mind that the deal is proving very popular already so it will likely end soon.

Why you should buy the Hisense 50-inch R6 4K TV
Hisense is one of the best TV brands for variety thanks to its offerings including cheaper TVs as well as some great more high-end models too. With the Hisense 50-inch R6 4K TV, you get some great essential features. That includes its large 4K screen but it goes further than that. The TV also has support for Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10 so you get improved realism and color throughout whatever you’re watching. There’s also Motion Rate 120 technology so that you can enjoy practically non-existent motion blur even when you’re watching fast-moving action or playing a game.

Read more