Jordan O'BrienParamount’s first 4K UHD Blu-ray is boldly going where no Blu-ray has gone before; Star Trek.
While very few Blu-ray players are capable of playing 4K UHD content, Paramount Pictures is getting ahead of the crowd by revealing that Star Trek will be the first film from the studio to get the high resolution experience.
Not only is Star Trek: Into Darkness, the latest film in the franchise, being released in 4K UHD but the original Star Trek is getting the 4K treatment as well. The double-release is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the series, which began life on NBC on September 8th 1966.
Both titles will go on sale on June 14th and will also include the IMAX version of Into Darkness, alongside three hours of behind-the-scenes content.
While it’s a big deal for Paramount to release its first 4K UHD Blu-ray, viewers will have more than just the high resolution to look forward to. That’s because as part of the bundle Paramount has also included Dolby Atmos audio.
Critics of 4K UHD Blu-rays remain unconvinced that physical discs will be able to compete with 4K streaming services – after all Amazon and Netflix have offered 4K UHD films and TV shows for quite a while. Sony has also launched its own 4K UHD streaming service, although pricing for the films is a little steep at $30 (£21) each.
For those who love a physical disc and absolutely must have 4K UHD content, then at least the option is there. Although don’t expect it to be cheap. In the US, the Star Trek combo pack will cost $47.99 (£34) – that’s a significant premium above the 1080p release, although users will get the extra enjoyment of 4K and Dolby Atmos, so if that’s important, then the premium can likely be justified.
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