The number of Ultra High Definition channels could reach 135 in 2017

The investment bank Credit Suisse in a report for its clients predicts that the take-off of U-HDTV will be faster than that of HD.

In a Credit Suisse report for its clients, the investment bank forecasts the takeoff of Ultra High Definition in the US and Europe from 2015-16.

In this report, it is expected that a total of five channels will broadcast in U-HDTV (4K) in 2013, rising to 135 in 2017.

The investment bank compares the adoption process of Ultra High Definition to that experienced with the adoption of HD, where from the first steps in the early 90s, we went to 548 channels in 2010 and almost 800 at the end of last year.

However, Credit Suisse predicts that the take-off of U-HDTV will be faster than that of HD.

"In the 2000s when HDTV was launched, many consumers were still watching analog television. Analog customers could not access high definition, which reduced the critical mass and initial willingness of broadcasters to invest in HDTV," the bank says in its report.

Likewise, he sees the shorter replacement period for televisions, around six years compared to ten in the 1990s, as a good weapon for the rapid development of Ultra High Definition.