Momentum grows for HDR10 +
Century Fox , Panasonic Corporation and Samsung
20th
Electronics have announced updates to the associated certification and logo programme for the open , royaltyfree dynamic metadata platform for High Dynamic Range ( HDR ), called HDR10 + which they initially announced in September 2017 at IFA .
The HDR10 + platform will soon be made available to content companies , ultrahigh definition TVs , Blu-ray disc players / recorders and set-top box manufacturers , as well as SoC vendors , royaltyfree with only a nominal administrative fee . In addition , Ultra HD Bluray metadata generation tools have been developed with third parties and will soon be available for content creators enabling Ultra HD Blu-ray players to enter the market . Details on the content transfer and interface format for the content creation pipeline will also be released shortly .
According to its proponents , HDR10 + will offer a genuinely premium HDR experience for viewers through a device certification programme ensuring an accurate representation of the creative intent expressed in the content . In addition , its workflow improvements for creators will encourage increased production of premium HDR content .
The HDR10 + licence programme will provide interested companies with the necessary technical and testing specifications to implement HDR10 + technology in a way that both maintains high picture quality and gives each manufacturer the ability to apply dynamic tone mapping innovatively . The accompanying certification programme will ensure that HDR10 + compliant products meet good picture quality and deliver the creative intent of movie directors and cinematographers . A certified product will feature the HDR10 + logo , which signifies the product ’ s excellent picture quality .
Key aspects of the licence programme will include :
• Benefits for device manufacturers ( e . g ., TV , Ultra HD Blu-ray , OTT STB , etc .), content distribution services providers , SoC
4 ADVANCED TELEVISION manufacturers , content publishers , and content creation tool providers .
• No per-unit royalty .
• A nominal annual administration fee for device manufacturers , SoC manufacturers and content distribution service providers .
• Technical specification , test specification , HDR10 + logo / logo guide , patents from
the three companies directly related to the technical specification and the test specification .
• Certification for devices will be performed by a third-party , authorised testing centre .
• Once the HDR10 + licence programme is open , the three founding companies will incorporate HDR10 + technologies in all future Ultra HD movie releases , selected TVs , Ultra HD Blu-ray player / recorders , and other products . “ It was important for us to create an open system that is flexible and offers a viewing experience much closer to the filmmaker ’ s creative intent for the film ,” said Danny Kaye , EVP of 20th Century Fox , and managing director of the Fox Innovation Lab . “ Together with Samsung and Panasonic , we aim to standardise the licensing process making it easy for partners , including content creators , television and device manufacturers , to incorporate this technology and improve the viewing experience for all audiences .”
They say support continues to grow for HDR10 + and companies are looking forward to applying the 3C specifications and certification programme . More than 25 companies spanning many different
industries have expressed strong interest in supporting the HDR10 + platform , further reinforcing its path to success .
Amazon Prime Video , the first streaming service provider to deliver HDR10 +, has made the entire Prime Video HDR library available in HDR10 + globally .
Warner Bros . Home Entertainment will support HDR10 + to enable a dynamic metadata solution for Warner Bros . content to Samsung , Panasonic and other HDR10 + capable 4K HDR TVs . “ Warner Bros . has always strived to provide the best next gen home entertainment experience to consumers ,” said Jim Wuthrich , president of the Americas and global strategy , Warner Bros . Home Entertainment . “ With HDR10 + dynamic metadata , WB can continue to more accurately bring the filmmakers ’ vision of our 2018 releases and our vast catalogue of over seventyfive 4K HDR titles to the home across a broad range of HDR10 + capable TV ’ s .”
The new HDR10 + technology optimises picture quality for next generation displays by using dynamic tone mapping to reflect frame to frame or scene to scene variations in brightness , colour saturation , and contrast , which makes for an enhanced viewing experience . HDR10 + technology optimises the performance of many 4K ultra-high definition TVs , enabling playback on a wide range of next generation TVs bringing user experience much closer to the original creative intent for Hollywood films .
“ By bringing together know-how and technology from the three founding companies , HDR10 + has the potential to deliver considerable picture quality benefits to both viewers and creators alike ,” said Toshiharu Tsutsui , director of Panasonic ’ s TV business division . “ Accordingly , Panasonic anticipates wide support for HDR10 +.”
“ Samsung is committed to technological innovation across our TVs and HDR10 + represents an evolution in display quality for the best possible viewing experience ,” said Jongsuk Chu , SVP of visual display business at Samsung Electronics . “ We have also designed the HDR10 + platform to encourage future development in order to deliver further enhanced technology in the years to come .”