Amazon teams with Samsung, Warner, Lionsgate and others on 4K Ultra HD

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Teams with Samsung, Warner Bros., Lionsgate and Others to Pioneer 4K Ultra HD Experience for Customers

SEATTLE — Amazon Instant Video today announced it is working with the world’s leading consumer electronics companies, top Hollywood studios and TV programmers, including Samsung, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, 20th Century Fox, Discovery and others to offer customers a premium 4K Ultra HD experience. Today’s announcement continues Amazon’s commitment to 4K—just last month, Amazon Studios announced that it plans to shoot all 2014 full original series, including comedies and dramas, in 4K Ultra HD.

4K is the latest and most advanced in high definition video, utilizing displays with an aspect ratio of at least 16:9 and capable of showcasing video at a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels or 8.3 million pixels—that’s four times the number of pixels as standard full HD. 4K means customers can enjoy their favorite movies and TV shows with unprecedented picture clarity—details are sharper with smoother lines so that even up-close images seem clearer and more realistic.

“Customers are excited about the future of 4K and the next evolution of high resolution video. We’re working with consumer electronics leaders and Hollywood studios to make that a reality,” said Bill Carr, Vice President of Digital Video and Music for Amazon. “There are a number of elements that need to work together to create a true 4K experience for customers—you need great content and compatible devices but you also need a service that can deliver that content to your devices so that it plays beautifully—we’re excited about making that a reality.”

“2014 will be a breakthrough year for Ultra HD and it is important to deliver on not only the top-of-the-line products but also great content to fully enjoy the benefits of Ultra HD,” said Kyungshik Lee, Senior Vice President of the Service Strategy Team of Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics. “Samsung is launching its biggest line of Ultra HD TVs and is excited to work with content services like Amazon Instant Video to bring the clarity and lifelike quality of 4K to our customers.”

“Warner Bros. is looking forward to working with Amazon as they offer their customers a fantastic 4K home entertainment experience,” said Ron Sanders President, Warner Bros. Worldwide Home Entertainment Distribution. “The new 4K Ultra HD displays provide viewers with a superior picture, bringing new life to movies and TV shows, and for content that is not available in 4K, the Ultra HD displays will make every detail of your Blu-ray collection more vivid and crisp compared to standard 1080p screens.”

“We’re delighted to explore the 4K arena as part of our multifaceted relationship with Amazon,” said Lionsgate President of Worldwide Television & Digital Distribution, Jim Packer. “Ultra-high definition is the tip of the iceberg in underscoring the potential for new technologies to enrich our library of great franchises and other premium content in the years to come.”

“Amazon has a strong history of consumer-empowering innovations, and their commitment to advancing the consumer digital experience is a testament to their innovative culture,” said Mike Dunn, President, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. “Our strategy of fostering easy, affordable and accessible ways for consumers to enjoy Fox movies and TV shows across all of their devices is very much in line with that.”

“Discovery has been pleased to offer Amazon customers an array of our popular content,” said JB Perrette, Chief Digital Officer, Discovery Communications. “In Discovery’s nearly 30-year history, the company has led the way in providing closer-to-reality content experiences, from digital to HD to 3D and now, with 4K. We applaud Amazon for developing a true 4K viewing experience for its customers and we look forward to working with them to create ever-better viewing opportunities for our audiences.”