Canon's C500 4K Cinema Camera

Vimeo today announced the ability to upload and download 4K content to their popular video streaming system. Additionally, content creators selling videos using Vimeo On Demand will be able to offer 4K downloads of their work.

The new option for 4K upload and download is exclusive to Vimeo PRO members, which will allow users to share content shot and uploaded in 4K to their clients and collaborators. The addition of 4K upload and download is a big value add for PRO members, and the feature is already available in the $200/year plan.

For those users who plan to sell their creations through Vimeo On Demand, Vimeo’s self-distribution platform, the option to offer 4K content to their buyers will now be available.

While 4K streaming isn’t yet offered by Vimeo, this is definitely a step toward more and better 4K support from Vimeo, and the addition of 4K streaming can’t be too far behind.

“2015 is expected to be a breakout year for 4K content, and we want to support creators who are using Vimeo as a workflow platform to showcase and share their work in the most high-quality way,” said Jessica Casano-Antonellis, Director of Communications for Vimeo.

A breakout year indeed. With the 4K television racing to lower and lower price points, and 4K video capabilities spanning cameras from top-tier pro cameras all the way down to action cameras and smartphones, 4K is making a strong case for being the new norm.

It appears to be only a matter of time before 4K streaming becomes commonplace as well, with set top boxes such as Apple TV and Chromecast delivering content from sites such as Vimeo, and 4K televisions becoming more affordable. We can only hope that consumer set top boxes will be 4K ready in the near future.

As a producer, videographer, editor or camera operator, are you ready for the 4K wave? Let us know what you've done to prepare in the comments below, or hit us up on Twitter @Videomaker.

For more information about Vimeo’s PRO plan, visit http://vimeo.com/pro