Vimeo adds 4K downloads

Vimeo has added Ultra High-Definition, 4K video support to its site, allowing Vimeo PRO members and Vimeo On Demand sellers to offer 4K video files for download for the first time.

Announcing the move, Vimeo said in a statement that while creators have been able to upload in 4K “for some time”, this is the first instance viewers have been able to download and play the files on 4K devices.

“While we don’t yet offer 4K streaming on our site, we’ll be ready by the time broadband providers start widely supporting the high speeds required,” said Vimeo.

Movie and TV streaming service Wuaki started to add ultra high-definition, 4K movies to its catalogue on December 1 and other online video services like Netflix have also started to experiment with the format.

Recent research by IHS’s Display Search claimed that shipments of 4K TVs increased by more than 500% year-on-year in the third quarter to top 3 million units.