


But even as UHD Blu-ray sales and 4K streaming options have grown, 4K media remains a small segment of the media market. Ultra HD Blu-ray discs were introduced in 2016, but Netflix started streaming in 4K two years prior. The interesting counterpoint to this is the newer 4K standard, which was introduced in 2012, but in less than a decade, 4K TVs have become the standard for the TV market, dropping in price drastically – just check out the best TVs under $500 for some excellent examples of affordable 4K TVs.īut 4K media is still relatively scarce. The first HDTVs started selling in 1998, but it wasn't until 2008 that Blu-ray was adopted as the new standard for HD movies releases by the major Hollywood studios – a full decade after the first HDTV went on sale. Even as UHD Blu-ray sales and 4K streaming options have grown, 4K media remains a small segment of the media market.
