DirecTV Now is another streaming service offered by AT&T that offers live television through the Internet. As more companies enter the streaming market, the biggest question people have is whether DirecTV Now provides 4K streaming. In this post, we will briefly discuss what 4K streaming is, if DirecTV Now offers it, and some other choices for 4K streaming.
What is 4K Streaming?
4K is a high-quality video with a display resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. This is equivalent to over eight million pixels, and much higher than regular High Definition at 1920 x 1080.
4K streaming enables you to stream movies, TV shows, and other video content in 4K so long as your internet connection is fast enough to support the content. Some of the major streaming services that are rather limited in terms of 4K video content include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube.
What About 4K Streaming on DirecTV Now?
The short answer is no, DirecTV Now is not compatible with 4K video streaming as of now. Their platform is only available in HD streaming which has a maximum resolution of 1080p.
Therefore, if you are expecting to watch your favorite shows or movies in 4K on DirecTV Now, you will be disappointed. It is rather frustrating that they have not included support for 4K streaming while other services like Netflix have been offering this feature for years.
It is expected that AT&T will improve the DirecTV Now service to add streaming in ultra HD 4K in the future due to growing customer preferences for improved video quality from 4K. However, at the current time, only HD is present instead of 4K.
Other 4K Streaming Options
If you want access to 4K movies and shows for streaming, here are some top platforms that offer extensive libraries of 4K Ultra HD content:
1. Netflix – Netflix currently has over 700 Netflix originals and other movies and shows available in 4K provided you are a Netflix premium subscriber.
2. Amazon Prime Video - Prime Video offers a vast selection of Prime Video originals and other content in 4K for members.
3. YouTube - It is possible to watch millions of YouTube videos with the option of streaming in 4K quality. Just type 4K videos and click on the 4K option in the streaming settings of your account.
4. Vudu – Walmart’s Vudu streaming service has a good selection of 4K movie releases in 4K. You can decide to purchase the individual ones or even shift for renting of the same.
5. Disney+ – Despite their catalog not being as large as it is today, Disney’s streaming platform streams some of their best Marvel and Star Wars movies in 4K with HDR.
However, DirecTV Now was lacking in offering support for video streaming in 4K, though we hope they will eventually start soon. Nevertheless, when it comes to 4K content, your only choice at the moment is streaming services such as Netflix or Prime Video.
Conclusion
In terms of streaming quality support, DirecTV Now has not been very good mainly in the support for 4K streaming. While services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and others let you watch certain shows, movies, and originals in beautiful ultra HD 4K quality, DirecTV Now tops out at regular HD 1080p at the time of writing. So far, AT&T has not issued a statement regarding whether DirecTV Now will get the 4K update or if it will happen soon. However, the consumer demand for 4K should ideally urge them to make these changes soon enough.
