4K or Ultra HD is the future, but it’s a marathon, not a
sprint to higher resolutions. And while 1080p TV screens are the norm and
mobile screen resolutions continue to climb, plenty of streamed HD content is
still distributed in 720p or lower. Over-the-top (OTT) services such as
Netflix, VUDU, and M-GO, which exclusively distribute content over the
Internet, are more eager to embrace 1080p and Ultra HD for connected CE devices
in order to appear more innovative. Meanwhile, traditional distributors, with
regards to TV Everywhere content, are more likely to settle for 720p as they
consider smartphones and tablets the primary targets; continuing to leverage
existing Pay TV services as their ‘main’ distribution channel for TVs – OTT
operators likewise favor lower resolutions for mobile devices.