Sony 4K TV an indication...

[unplugme71]

How so? At least with my cable op, HD doesn't extra. Do some charge more?

Time Warner charges more for Digital TV than Standard TV. Digital TV offers HD and on-demand. $10 more

 

[Carlanga]

Unless my next TV is 80+" I don't see myself paying the 4K premium.

 

[JoshMKB24]

Time Warner charges more for Digital TV than Standard TV. Digital TV offers HD and on-demand. $10 more

Yeah my old cable provider and DirecTV which I currently have charge more. I think for Cable it was 10 bucks like you said and DirecTV doesn't offer SD as far as I know but charges you an extra 5 for HD boxes with no DVR

 

[priitv8]

Unless my next TV is 80+" I don't see myself paying the 4K premium.

Don't worry, the "premium" will vanish with time! Remember, what first flat panels used to cost? Yes, the 32" plasmas? I bet 4k will fall much faster than those did.
PS 4k panel in a 55" TV has the same visual effect, that Retina screen on Apple's devices. It's just not marketed like that.