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We ’ re still in a very experimental phase . We ’ re still trying to find opportunities as they arise , but it ’ s still a concept process for the BBC to work through to do UHD routinely .”
So when will the next trial of HLG be ? Phil won ’ t say . “ We will always look for opportunities , as and when they appear . We don ’ t have anything immediate , but if there ’ s an opportunity and we think we can learn something new , we can help manufacturers develop . Then we will look for those opportunities and take them as they arise .”
In addition to needing content encoded for HLG , users will also need to own a TV that supports the standard . In 2017 the number of models supporting HLG is set to explode and the BBC has confirmed that it ’ s working with all of the major tier-one and tier-two manufacturers on implementing the technology .
Those that have already acquired an HDR TV won ’ t be left out in the cold either . Some manufacturers have confirmed to EI that HLG will be available through a software upgrade for some of their TVs .
A Samsung spokesperson confirmed : “ HLG compatibility will be rolled out for 2017 models through firmware updates . We will announce timings for these updates in due course .” While Sony also confirmed that HLG was likely to land as a software release on some of its models .
As it stands , HLG will only be supported on smart TVs , although the BBC is actively working to change that . “ We are talking to one of the major computer chipset vendors making sure there ’ s a solution ultimately on PCs ,” Phil notes .
So with HLG now available on several TVs and hopefully eventually coming to PCs , when will the technology be available through typical broadcast television ? Well , that ’ s the million-dollar question – and it ’ s one that has yet to receive an answer . The BBC won ’ t be alone when it does come to broadcast television , however , as the corporation is in talks with other broadcasters who are interested in using HLG .
It ’ s clear that the BBC is excited about the impending launch of HLG and the opportunities it holds . Phil says : “ We think it ’ s a real value add-on for UHD . To show some of the pictures to people at first , when they thought they ’ d seen it with UHD and you show them HLG – they are just wowed by the quality .
“ I think it ’ ll be interesting to see how manufacturers implement it . Up to now , many TVs , in the way of using their brightness , they end up stretching the pictures and making everything really bright . I think the thing about HDR systems in general is they bring back the more natural look and you get the highlights where you actually need them .
“ In terms of performance , HLG and Dolby Vision they are very similar . Some EBU work showed at some point , HLG was better than HDR 10 . It ’ ll be interesting . The Planet Earth Blu-rays that are coming out , while they were graded in HLG , they ’ ve been mathematically converted into HDR 10 – so there ’ s interoperability between the systems .”
26 | March 2017 10th-11th May 2017 , Sandown Park , Surrey . Sponsored by