Get ready for 4K porn. In the wake of Netflix and YouTube announcing that they would start streaming in ultra-high definition, porn production company Naughty America unveiled its plan to offer adult entertainment at four times the resolution of regular 1080p HD.
Right now, few consumers have displays capable of streaming 4K, but that could change in 2014. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, both Vizio and Polaroid showed off 4K TVs that cost under $1,000. Dell announced a new 4K display monitor priced at only $699.
Before the technology becomes widespread, it makes sense for smaller companies to wait before investing in expensive 4K camera equipment and the massive server space needed to host extra-large files. Naughty America plans to cover its costs by charging an extra $10 on top of the $24.95 it charges for an HD monthly subscription, according to the Wall Street Journal. Another adult film company, Huccio, also announced 4K streaming in October.
While it might seem like a niche industry, online pornography accounts for 8.3 percent of all web traffic in the United States, meaning there are plenty of potential customers who might pony up extra cash to watch ultra-high definition NSFW content.
Despite all of the new 4K displays on the market, consumers still need a computer capable of streaming uncomfortably detailed video at home. Those don't come cheap. Even top-of-the-line computers rarely have the memory and graphics cards capable of smoothly running 4K video. One exception: The new Mac Pro, which starts at $3,000 and can support up to three 4K displays.
Are there people out there willing to spend that much money on porn? Considering that it's a $14 billion industry, there is a good chance that the answer is yes.
Keith Wagstaff writes about technology for NBC News. He previously covered technology for TIME's Techland and wrote about politics as a staff writer at TheWeek.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @kwagstaff and reach him by email at: [email protected]
