If you’ve ever purchased a movie or TV show in SD or HD from the Google Play Movies & TV Store, Google is going to upgrade it to 4K free of charge. Probably. The caveat is that you need to have purchased the film in one of the aforementioned lower resolutions (either HD or SD) and, more importantly, there needs to be an equivalent 4K version on the Google Play Store. No equivalent, no upgrade. The upgrade offer is also only available to folks living in the US and Canada with no firm announcement on when this upgrade could come to other territories. That said, if you live in one of those two countries, and Google can find an equivalent match, the higher-resolution file will be all yours to stream to your heart’s content. 4K for all Beyond upgrading movies and shows in your collection to 4K UHD, Google will also make that the de facto format moving forward – making the price of 4K content identical to what HD content costs now. (Apple, remember, pulled a similar maneuver last year when it introduced 4K content to the iTunes Store.) To coincide with the announcement, Google will also be giving an update to its Play Movies & TV app on Samsung TVs that will enable 4K streaming and will enable HDR playback on 4K Sony TVs, too. On top of all that, all Play Movies & TV apps on LG, Samsung and Sony TVs will be updated with a new UI this week as well. According to information from Google, 4K content will begin rolling out today with movies and TV shows from participating studios, with more content and additional upgrades in the future as more 4K content becomes available.<doc-sep>Google has announced a couple of significant changes to Play Movies & TV that will have a considerable impact on owners of 4K televisions. Starting today, some previously-purchased movies will automatically be upgraded to 4K quality once available. Additionally, the price of newly released and upcoming 4K content on the platform is also going down. Content from participating Hollywood studios such as Fox, Lionsgate, NBC Universal, Sony, and Warner Bros purchased in SD or HD quality will be available to stream in 4K as soon as that is available. The free upgrade only applies to movies purchased before today. Anything you purchase from now on won't be upgraded. Google Play Movies Gets Support for ‘Movies Anywhere’ Service Enabling Users To Stream Purchased Movies From Multiple Platforms We think watching in 4K should be a no brainer, so we’re continuously working to make that a reality. With Google Play, it’s now easier than ever for you to watch movies in the best quality possible, no matter which device you're using. And it doesn't stop here, we'll continue to make improvements so you can sit back, relax and enjoy your favorite movies, whenever and wherever. The average price of 4K films on Google Play is now lower than before. You can check out Google's top 4K movies here; some can be had for prices in the single digits. Most 4K Samsung Smart TVs are now able to stream 4K content in the Google Play Movies & TV app, too, something that previously required external hardware like a Chromecast Ultra. Google says it's working with LG to get the functionality up and running on that company's sets, as well. Although 4K TVs have been around for a while, there's a severe lack of content available online and hopefully; we get more of it as more people get their hands on 4K-ready hardware. News Source: Android Police<doc-sep>Google announced in a blog post today that Google Play customers in the US and Canada will see several upgrades to their movie-watching experience. Any movies you’ve previously purchased in SD or HD that are available in 4K will now be automatically upgraded to stream in 4K. If you open the Play Movies & TV app it should tell you which titles have had the upgrade applied. Additionally, Google Play has lowered the cost of most 4K titles — they used to sit around $30 a pop and now most sit below the $20 mark. Lastly, Google has expanded device support for watching titles in 4K with the Play Movies & TV app. Now, in addition to working with 4K Sony Bravia TVs, it also works with most 4K Samsung Smart TVs. The company also says it’s working on adding support for LG TVs.<doc-sep>
Earlier this month, Play Movies & TV for Android hinted that Google was preparing to upgrade purchased films to 4K resolution. Starting today, Google Play will automatically upgrade both SD and HD movies to 4K for free. Google is also making Ultra HD content more affordable, while also updating its smart TV applications. The Play Store began offering UHD content back in late 2016, and today will upgrade existing SD and HD movie purchases to 4K for free in the U.S. and Canada. The inclusion of Standard Definition content is notable, with Apple’s iTunes only upgrading HD movies last year. Upgrades are dependent on participating studios making higher resolution content available, with the process starting in the Play Movies & TV client. The latest version of the app will alert users which titles have been upgraded, with the ability to filter by 4K content. These updates are currently rolling out now, with additional upgrades in the future as more studios join the party. Meanwhile, 4K movies are now less expensive on Google Play. For the most part, pricing is in line with HD movies at $19.99 and above. In addition to the content upgrades, Google is making UHD content more widely available on existing devices. Users with 4K television sets no longer need a Chromecast Ultra or 4K Android TV set-top box. Native higher resolution streaming is now available via the Play Movies & TV app on compatible Samsung Smart TVs and Sony Bravia TVs, with LG support “expected soon.” Meanwhile, the client is getting a modern look and feel on Samsung, LG, and Vizio smart TVs. More on Google Play Movies & TV: Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news: FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news: