TCL launched its first 8K TV earlier this year with the TCL Roku TV 6-Series 8K (R648), and just months later, the TV maker stepped up its game by offering TCL customers the first 8K subscription video service available on a smart TV.

Owners of TCL 8K TVs are now eligible for The Explorers Foundation's new 8K streaming service, Explorers 8K Premium Subscription Service. The TV manufacturer has partnered with The Explorers Foundation, an initiative that seeks to protect and promote biodiversity through documenting the Earth in all its glory.

Specifically, it is to collect and share a large library of 8K and 4K Ultra HD videos dedicated to the natural, cultural, and human heritage of the planet.

I have written at length in the past about the complete lack of 8K content options available for 8K TVs. Up to this point, YouTube and Vimeo, which host 8K video, have been mostly sufficient. However, the content selection is sparse, the discovery process is lousy, and the available 8K content is drowned out by the mountain of other videos offered by the services. There was no good source of 8K content for TV owners to enjoy.

With The Explorers streaming app, TCL is trying to change that; The Explorers offers a mix of 8K and 4K content from around the world from a community of documentarians and filmmakers. Not just in the sense that the media is produced in different countries. From the glaciers of the icy Arctic to the tropical islands of French Polynesia. The Explorers platform is dedicated to exploring all of the planet, whether natural, cultural, or human events.

"8K HDR enhances images with unparalleled sharpness and depth of field," said Gregory Martoglio, a world-renowned nature cinematographer and frequent contributor to Explorers.

"The powerful images of the natural world we've preserved on 8K video look spectacular on the Explorer's channel through our TCL 6 Series 8K TVs.

What this means for TCL TV owners is that there is a library of 8K content currently available. And there is the promise of new content being offered daily through the app. Even if the latest movies and TV shows are not available, the idea of a steady drip of 8K content is a big step up from the past, giving 8K TV owners something new to watch every day.

TCL customers get a free three-month trial subscription, with ongoing subscriptions at $2.99 per month. Subscriptions are also a great way to support a good cause, as the Explorers Foundation gets a portion of its revenue from this monthly fee.

It is worth noting that the Explorers app is available to all Roku customers and the free 3-month trial is exclusively for TCL customers. It will also be available on future 8K Roku models, but at this time only TCL manufactures it.

The Explorers 8K app is available from the Roku Channel Store, but registration requires setting up an account on the Explorers Plus web page.