SAN FRANCISCO—Peacock will stream Telemundo’s live Spanish-language coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos with Dolby AC-4.

“As the leader in live sports streaming, Peacock is known for our unmatched reliability and quality,” said David Bohunek, senior vice president of global video engineering at NBCUniversal. “Fútbol fans will love watching Telemundo’s FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage on Peacock in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos with Dolby AC-4—it’ll be a truly stunning viewing experience they can’t get anywhere else.”

A joint team of engineers from NBCUniversal and Dolby Laboratories worked together for more than a year to fine-tune how Peacock brings Dolby Vision to live sports, combining Dolby’s latest streaming tools with NBCUniversal’s expertise in native HDR production.

All 104 matches will be delivered in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos with Dolby AC-4, a first for the event. Peacock’s presentation of Telemundo’s World Cup coverage is also believed to be the first commercial deployment of Dolby AC-4 by a video streamer.

Dolby AC-4 delivers clear sound with up to 50% greater efficiency than traditional codecs, enabling delivery of Dolby Atmos at the highest possible fidelity.

“There is no bigger stage in sports, and now Peacock viewers will experience every moment the way it was meant to be seen and heard," said John Couling, senior vice president of entertainment at Dolby Laboratories. "From the energy of the crowd to the emotion on the field, every goal scored, Dolby helps bring fans closer to the experience."

More information is available on the company’s website.

LAS VEGAS—Dolby Laboratories said NBCUniversal’s Peacock will be the first streaming platform to embrace its full suite of advanced picture and sound innovations.

Peacock began streaming “Sunday Night Football” in Dolby Atmos immersive audio last September and said it is extending the availability of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos to live National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball games throughout 2026. Although the announcement didn't include the 2026 Winter Olympics (Feb. 6–22), Comcast and select broadcasters aired the 2024 Paris Summer Games in Dolby Atmos immersive audio and HDR.

Peacock is also the first streamer to announce its commitment to support Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby AC-4, anticipated to launch later this year, according to Dolby. Unveiled at IFA 2025, Dolby Vision 2 is what Dolby describes as a “groundbreaking evolution” of its industry-leading picture quality innovation for televisions.

“Building on the success of Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision 2 is designed to meet the evolving expectations of today’s viewers and unlock the most out of your television,” the company said in its announcement. “From helping solve the debate on whether the picture is ‘too dark’ to delivering a more cinematic experience without distracting judder or soap-opera effects, Dolby Vision 2 delivers a more authentic, captivating picture—without compromise.”

Dolby AC-4 is that company’s most advanced and efficient audio codec to date, delivering crystal-clear sound with up to 50% greater efficiency than traditional codecs, the company said. Dolby AC-4 offers new personalization and dialog enhancement features and unlocks the highest audio fidelity possible while using a fraction of the bandwidth of traditional codecs.

“Peacock is raising the bar for what streaming entertainment can be with Dolby,” said John Couling, senior vice president of entertainment at Dolby Laboratories. “This partnership reflects our vision to push the boundaries of live sports and entertainment, delivering experiences that truly stand apart. With Dolby, Peacock stands as the premier destination for viewers who expect nothing less than exceptional entertainment at home.”

Added David Bohunek, senior vice president of global video engineering at NBCUniversal: “We deliver the most compelling content with the highest quality experience and unparalleled reliability on Peacock. Our partnership with Dolby ensures that whether our subscribers are streaming a thrilling playoff game, the latest Universal blockbuster or a critically acclaimed Peacock Original, they're experiencing it exactly as creators intended—with breathtaking picture and immersive sound that brings every moment to life.”

SAN FRANCISCO & THE COLONY, Texas—Dolby Laboratories is making what it is calling a “new chapter” in its retail efforts as part of an agreement with NFM (Nebraska Furniture Mart) to launch the first-ever Dolby Home Experience, at NFM's The Colony location on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Dolby said that the Dolby Home Experience is an immersive retail destination where shoppers can see, hear, and feel how Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos transform their favorite movies, music, sports, and games.

"The Dolby Home Experience at NFM represents a new era of experience-driven retail," said Ketrina Dunagan, head of Americas marketing at Dolby. "This launch reflects how Dolby is meeting today's consumer through experiences that show, not tell, the difference our technologies make. Together with NFM, we're bringing the power of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos to life in a way that's simple, accessible, and built for how people shop today."

Built as a dynamic, interactive environment, guests can explore the ultra-vivid picture of Dolby Vision and the immersive sound of Dolby Atmos in a setting that feels like home guided by Dolby-trained experts and surrounded by the latest TVs, soundbars, and devices from leading brands. From inspiration to hands-on demos, the space helps consumers understand the value of a better entertainment experience, no technical expertise required, the two companies said.

"We are giving our Dallas-Fort Worth customers a new way to explore home entertainment," said Robert Kincheloe, store director at NFM. "The Dolby Home Experience transforms our store into an interactive destination where shoppers can try out the latest products, get hands-on guidance from experts, and see how premium entertainment technology fits into their everyday lives."

Dolby and NFM will host a two-day grand launch event from Saturday, Dec. 6 to Sunday, Dec. 7, with interactive demos, exclusive offers, giveaways, and hands-on opportunities to explore Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

More information is available at the Dolby Home Experience webpage.

A new case study looks at NBC-owned stations’ NextGen TV transmission of the games with enhanced video and sound.

NBC-owned stations and some Gray Media affiliates leveraged Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos immersive audio to enhance the over-the-air viewing experience of the Paris Olympics.

The network also enhanced the visual and sound experience of cable TV and Peacock streaming viewers by offering the Paris Games in Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos or both.

A new case study examines:

• NBC and Gray’s use of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
• Why HDR and immersive audio are so critical to TV broadcasting.
• The central role of NextGen TV.
• NBC and Dolby’s combined strategy to promote the Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos NextGen TV telecasts online and on-air.

Click here to read.

PHILADELPHIA and SAN FRANCISCO.—In a first for Super Bowl coverage, Comcast and Dolby have announced that Fox’s coverage of the Super Bowl on Feb. 9 will be delivered in both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

The experience will be available to Xfinity TV customers as part of Comcast’s new Enhanced 4K offering on X1 and on the Xfinity Stream App.

“Enhanced 4K” provides customers with an unmatched viewing experience with the best picture and audio quality delivered to the home in the fastest way possible, according to Comcast, so the action customers see in their living room is only seconds behind the game as it unfolds in New Orleans.

“The Super Bowl is another example of how Xfinity is redefining the sports-viewing experience through innovations in our network and with the latest innovations from partners like Dolby,” Comcast Vice President, Sports Entertainment, Connectivity and Platforms Vito Forlenza said. “With the clearest picture quality and the most-realistic audio possible, we’re offering customers a viewing experience they can’t get anywhere else for the biggest live sporting event of the year. Plus, we’re delivering it as fast as possible over our state-of-the-art network so customers can feel like they’re witnessing every exciting moment at the same time as the fans in the Superdome.”

“Dolby and Comcast share a long history of delivering unparalleled, first-of-their-kind experiences to fans, and today marks another milestone in our journey to transform the future of live sports,” said Jason Power, vice president, AV ecosystem, Dolby Laboratories. “Together, we continue to raise the bar by offering Xfinity customers an immersive experience that brings the sights and sounds of the game to life like never before.”

In another first, Comcast also announced that Xfinity customers can also enjoy this 4K viewing experience with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos through the Xfinity Stream app, which is available on compatible Dolby-enabled streaming devices and TVs.

First launched for last year’s Paris Summer Olympics, Comcast explained that “Enhanced 4K” is a new quality standard to live sports delivered in 4K on X1. It leverages Comcast’s network technology to deliver the best-possible 4K video, ultra-low latency, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

Comcast also noted that Enhanced 4K joins a host of other immersive and interactive features on X1. These features include: multiview, where customers can watch up to four events at once on the same screen; aggregated sports hubs, which make finding any game fast and easy; and Odds Zone, a companion experience where fans can watch and wager with leading sportsbooks directly on TV.

PHILADELPHIA—Comcast will give subscribers a personalized, interactive and bilingual viewing experience for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 via its Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex platforms, Xfinity Stream app and XClass TV, it said today.

For the first time it will enable eligible Xfinity X1 subscribers to watch the tournament in Dolby Vision high dynamic range (HDR) 4K, it said.

Its platforms will aggregate all available English and Spanish live coverage and on-demand replays into one comprehensive destination. New platform features are available to enhance their viewing experience, it said.

(Read also: Fox Sports Ready for 4K/HDR FIFA World Cup)

Fox Sports and Telemundo are the official FIFA World Cup English and Spanish language broadcast rights holders for the soccer tournament, Nov.  20-Dec. 18. 

“The FIFA World Cup is going to be one of the biggest sporting events in 2022, and with streaming coverage from Peacock and Tubi, there will be more ways to watch than ever,” said Comcast executive director of product management Vito Forlenza. “Our platforms will bring together all the various viewing options into one comprehensive destination, making it easy for our customers—whether a pay TV customer with X1 or a steamer with Flex or XClass TV—to enjoy all 64 matches, live or on demand, in the language of their choice.” 

X1 subscribers will be able to say the words “World Cup” or “Copa Mundial” into their Xfinity voice remote to access coverage. Besides voice access, features include:

• Dolby Vision: A first for the World Cup, live 4K Dolby Vision HDR coverage from Fox Sports will only be available in the U.S. on the platform.
• Personalized viewing that enables viewers to select their favorite teams to create a custom World Cup viewing experiences with access to live coverage and match highlights across devices from a central location. Coverage of teams selected as favorites will carry over to the Xfinity Stream app. Viewers also can opt in to receive notifications of games on their TVs and mobile devices.
• Interactive tournament bracket availability via X1 that allows fans to track the latest schedules, get scores and standings and prepare for upcoming matches by setting their recording function and by getting reminders.
• Machine-learning driven highlights of the high-impact plays, goals, penalty kicks and saves noted in their DVR recordings so they can quickly find the best moments. 

On Xfinity Flex and XClass TV, Comcast will offer streamers a destination with all tournament-related programming available to stream, including live matches and same-day replays of all 64 matches in Spanish from Peacock, same-day replays of all 64 matches in English available from Tubi and tournament highlights and analysis. A tournament bracket is also available, it said.

This year’s World Cup presentations are the first time the company will make available personalized sports viewing features on its Xfinity Flex. They include the ability to select favorite teams to personalize the experience and an option to receive notifications, it said. 

A quick, easy upgrade to Xfinity TV is available for Flex subscribers via the Stream app so they can access live coverage from Fox and Telemundo, the company said.

More information is available on the company’s website. 

FRISCO, Texas—MediaKind has announced that its encoding portfolio of products has been integrated with Dolby Vision technology. With the new level of support, MediaKind users can encode solutions to deliver content in Dolby Vision across a range of consumer devices and form factors.

The integration gives MediaKind Packaging multiscreen video distributor and MediaKind Encoding Live encoding and transcoding software system support for Dolby Vision, while MediaKind’s cloud-native Aquila Streaming and Aquila Broadcast units can now provide resolution up to UHD.

Dolby Vision is an advanced imaging technology that combines HDR with wide color gamut capabilities to provide high-quality pictures. According to MediaKind, it can make images appear 40 times brighter and 10 times darker than other technology.

“As more UHD channels come to market, service providers, broadcasters and operators will require the latest HDR encoding technology advancements to enable and realize the immersive potential of their content,” said Boris Felts, head of Products, MediaKind. “Support for Dolby Vision means we can further enhance our encoding solutions to meet the needs of our customers and provide them with the ability to deliver premium, next-generation experiences to the market faster than ever before.”

For more information, visit www.mediakind.com.  

WATERLOO, Ontario—Dolby Laboratories has approved SSIMWAVE’s SSIMPLUS Viewer Experience monitoring product for its ability to decode Dolby Vision-enabled content, SSIMWAVE has announced.

Dolby’s certification of the monitoring solution follows extensive testing. SSIMPLUS monitoring assists users in delivering HDR content as intended. The product optimizes technology decisions across the delivery chain and offers a SSIMPLUS Viewer Score that measures preservation of creative intent by comparing encoded content to its source, the company said.

By monitoring quality across the distribution ecosystem, SSIMWAVE enables media companies to identify and resolve quality issues as relates to Dolby Vision content.

“Dolby Vision is one of the most common standards used by the industry to deliver HDR content as intended,” said Dr. Abdul Rehman, CEO and co-founder of SSIMWAVE. “As video experience becomes more and more important as a differentiator, content owners, delivery and service providers are demanding independent verification that their viewers are receiving the video quality they expect and deserve.”

SSIMWAVE will showcase the ability of SSIMPLUS to measure the Dolby Vision HDR Viewer Experience and how it can detect banding impairments in VOD content using Dolby Vision during its Virtual Demo Days in June. 

More information about SSIMWAVE’s Virtual Demo Days is available online. More information about the company is available on its website.  

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—Online video technology company Bitmovin has announced that it now supports Dolby Vision, Dolby’s HDR 4K video format. Bitmovin will license and implement Dolby Vision into its transcoding system to boost its 4K viewing experience over streaming.

With the integration, Bitmovin says its customers can use Dolby Vision HDR to deliver high-quality pictures with minimum bandwidth via its Bitmoving Video Encoding platform. Dolby Vision adjusts the picture on a scene-by-scene basis to allow the viewer to see more detail with better color accuracy, per Bitmovin.

Bitmovin Video Encoding offers per-title and three-pass features that automatically select the best encoding options according to the complexity of a piece of content, adjusting the bitrate requirements as needed.

“By integrating Dolby Vision into Bitmovin Video Encoding, our customers will be able to create and stream content that delivers transformative HDR experiences on minimum bandwidth and provide customers with the viewing experience they deserve and expect,” said Stefan Lederer, CEO of Bitmovin.

For more information, visit www.bitmovin.com.  

LAS VEGAS—Dolby Laboratories is making the most of the CES 2020 stage, highlighting new features for its Dolby Vision immersive entertainment technology, the Dolby Vision IQ.

Dolby Vision IQ extends the benefits of Dolby Vision beyond HDR by optimizing picture quality experiences for viewers in any room. Using Dolby Vision dynamic metadata and the ambient light sensors inside the TV, Dolby Vision IQ detects how bright or dark a room is and displays every detail of the content to match. It can also inform the TV what is being watched so when the channel is switched, the TV will modify its settings appropriately.

Dolby Laboratories is also highlighting its Dolby Atmos sound technology at CES, specifically how it is being used in the music industry.

PARIS—New software and hardware updates accompany the latest version of the Dalet AmberFin media processing platform, highlighted by the inclusion of Dolby Vision technologies and hardware acceleration tools from providers like Socionext.

Version 11.8.2.0 now has automated Dolby Vision mastering and distribution workflows that generate outputs from IMF, through broadcast, cable and satellite packages to OTT HLS and DASH bundles. There is also an integrated BPMN-compliant workflow engine and API for administrators to configure user interfaces, assign tasks and push through ad-hoc QC processes.

File outputs with the Dalet AmberFin can vary in packaging sophistication, from MP4s to IMF packages that are automatically synthesized from collections of input files and automation instructions.

Additional features include the M820L HEVC encoder plugin card from Socionext and integration with the Dalet Galaxy MAM platform. The system is capable of software-only, cloud-friendly frame rate conversion and interlace handling.

Dalet AmberFin v11.8.2.0 is now available to all existing customers on a support contract. For more information visit Dalet’s website.

Paris, France - October 29, 2019 –Dalet, a leading provider of solutions and services for broadcasters and content professionals, today announced that the latest release of the Dalet AmberFin media processing platform is the first software-based transcoding asset management system to include Dolby Vision® technologies, a leading HDR technology for media professionals, studios and streaming service providers. In addition to Dolby Vision and a raft of new software-only features, Dalet AmberFin can also be enhanced with hardware acceleration tools such as the M820L HEVC encoder plugin card from SoC (System On a Chip) specialist Socionext.

Steve Higgins, Product Manager, Dalet AmberFin, states, “The latest release of the Dalet AmberFin media processing engine marks a new era for this renowned high-quality content processor. Whether you process on-premises, in the cloud or with a mix of both; the efficiency of the processor coupled with high throughput and exceptional audio-visual quality are key for delivering your content in a timely and cost-conscious fashion.”

Unique in its class, Dalet AmberFin media processing capabilities enable automated Dolby Vision mastering and distribution workflows that generate outputs from IMF, through broadcast, cable and satellite packages to OTT HLS and DASH bundles. The integrated BPMN-compliant workflow engine and API let administrators configure user interfaces, assign tasks for operators, and push through ad-hoc QC processes; creating workflows that are just right for their facility.

Dalet AmberFin's file outputs can vary in packaging sophistication from simple MP4s through to complex IMF packages that are automatically synthesized from collections of input files and automation instructions. Dalet active participation in SMPTE’s IMF plugfests gives confidence that all its IMF processes are interoperable at the very highest level and are a key component of the IMF mastering and distribution revolution sweeping the industry.

Jean-Christophe Coin, CEO from Leading French Post-House VDM says of the platform, "By integrating Dalet AmberFin with our Dalet Galaxy MAM platform we have managed to build the Content Factory that we always dreamed of. Work orders for original and versioned content flow quickly and efficiently through our facility with human operators lending creative skills where required and automation fulfilling all other processes". On the complexity of today's workflows, he added, "There are more and more variations in the complexity of a modern title. When it was just SD or HD life was simple. Today we track different HDR variants and multiple languages, compliance and re-versioned variants for the large number of platforms that a single title might appear on."

Higgins concludes, “Whether your outputs are high bitrate JPEG2000 and ProRes or low bitrate H.264 and HEVC, the platform offers advanced features like outstanding software-only, cloud-friendly frame rate conversion and sophisticated interlace handling that will ensure your content is created quickly and with quality that viewers will love regardless of their delivery bandwidth.”

Dalet AmberFin version 11.8.2.0 is now available to all existing customers on a support contract. For more details, go to https://www.dalet.com/platforms/dalet-amberfin.

About Dalet Digital Media Systems

Dalet solutions and services enable media organisations to create, manage and distribute content faster and more efficiently, fully maximising the value of assets. Based on an agile foundation, Dalet offers rich collaborative tools empowering end-to-end workflows for news, sports, program preparation, post-production, archives and enterprise content management, radio, education, governments and institutions.

Dalet platforms are scalable and modular. They offer targeted applications with key capabilities to address critical functions of small to large media operations - such as planning, workflow orchestration, ingest, cataloguing, editing, chat & notifications, transcoding, play out automation, multi-platform distribution and analytics.

In July 2019, Dalet announced the acquisition of the Ooyala Flex Media Platform business. An acceleration of the company’s mission, the move brings tremendous value to existing Dalet and Ooyala customers, opening vast opportunities for OTT & digital distribution.

Dalet solutions and services are used around the world at hundreds of content producers and distributors, including public broadcasters (BBC, CBC, France TV, RAI, TV2 Denmark, RFI, Russia Today, RT Malaysia, SBS Australia, VOA), commercial networks and operators (Canal+, FOX, MBC Dubai, Mediacorp, Fox Sports Australia, Turner Asia, Mediaset, Orange, Charter Spectrum, Warner Bros, Sirius XM Radio), sporting organisations (National Rugby League, FIVB, Bundesliga) and government organisations (UK Parliament, NATO, United Nations, Veterans Affairs, NASA).

Dalet is traded on the NYSE-EURONEXT stock exchange (Eurolist C): ISIN: FR0011026749, Bloomberg DLT:FP, Reuters: DALE.PA.

Dalet® is a registered trademark of Dalet Digital Media Systems. All other products and trademarks mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.

For more information on Dalet, visit www.dalet.com.

Press Contact

Alex Molina

Zazil Media Group

(e) alex@zazilmediagroup.com

(p) +1 (617) 834-9600

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CUPERTINO, Calif.—Interra Systems is furthering its partnership with Dolby, announcing that it has integrated its Baton file-based quality control platform with Dolby Vision. Baton, which performs video, audio and closed caption checks, already support the Dolby Atmos audio format.

Dolby Vision is a next-generation standard designed to deliver high dynamic range and wide color gamut viewing experiences. By supporting Dolby Vision, Baton can decode and apply the metadata contained in Dolby Vision streams. With this, OTT video service providers have access to new functionalities like checking conformance against Dolby Vision, decoding Dolby Vision content and checking for the presence of Dolby Vision metadata.

“This latest expansion of our partnership will enable customers to perform QC and analyze Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos streams in production and delivery workflows, expediting the time to market oh high-quality HDR content,” said Vijeta Kashyap, vice president of operations at Interra Systems.

TOKYO—Grass Valley today unveiled the latest version of its Rio online editing and post-production suite and is showcasing the new release at Inter BEE 2018 in Tokyo (Hall 3/3506).

The new version, Rio v4.5.3 includes support for Dolby Vision deliverables via a Dolby CMU box, which enables timeline trim passes across multiple display devices with information stored in a single XML file. The Neo panel provides access to control of all parameters with frame analysis making for faster workflows on projects with long timelines.

It also offers near lossless rendering via a new compression codec based on VC-2, which allows Rio to run from 2:1 to 6:1 compressed to disk. A standard uncompressed mode is also available. According to Grass Valley, the codec is virtually lossless across multiple renders.

Another new feature is a Canon V2.2 SL HDR/SDR update offering additional support for BT.2020 Hybrid Log Gamma color space and gamma curve to handle HDR and SDR in a single signal. New functionality with resize and debayer modes and camera name display is also offered.

Finally, the Alchemist re-speed algorithm has been updated for greater stability and improved results, the company said. 

Vizio has begun shipping what it’s hailing as its brightest TV yet, the 2018 flagship P-series Quantum TV.

First previewed earlier this year, the 65-inch 4K smart TV boasts Dolby Vision HDR, active full-array backlighting with 192 zones of local dimming, 700 nits of full-screen brightness, 2,000 nits of peak brightness, and Quantum Color Spectrum technology said to provide a palette of over 1 billion colors. Other details include 240Hz refresh rate and Clear Action 960 technology reducing motion blur.

[Read: Vizio Embraces ATSC 1.0 Tuners & HDR In New 4K TVs]

Vizio’s built-in SmartCast OS enables consumers to access popular streaming apps, control their TVs via voice using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, or control the TV using a mobile device. SmartCast also comes with built-in Google Chromecast.

The bezel-free TV is now available for a $2,099 suggested retail at such retailers as Best Buy, Costco and Sam’s Club.

To date, we’ve discussed many of the technical aspects of HDR, including brightness and color gamut. Now it’s time to discuss how we get the signal to the viewer so that they can enjoy the step change improvement in the viewing experience. For that, we need delivery standards — and luckily for us, there are a number of them (that’s the great thing about standards — there are so many to choose from!).

INCREASED BIT DEPTH

The first thing to note in all of the delivery standards is that without exception, they use a higher number of bits to carry each component, the minimum being 10-bit. A subtle point here is that we have dramatically increased the gamut of colors that the system has to reproduce, so of course we need more bits in order to be able to numerically represent that wider color space.

EOTF

Many of us are well versed in the idea of gamma. This was the term for the nonlinear curve that was applied to the linear light output of video sources to account for nonlinearities in the delivery and display systems. The idea is simple, and illustrated in Fig. 1: if the display output is nonlinear, then by applying the inverse nonlinearity to the signal, the output to the viewer would then be linear (there is way more to it than this, but this explanation will do for now).

This assumes, of course, that all display devices have the exact same nonlinearity: a generalization to be sure, but it stood the test of time pretty well. You could have put this correction in the TV set itself, but that would have increased the cost of every TV set ever made, so it was more economical to do this at the source. In the HDR world, this correction is called the “Electro Optical Transfer Function,” or EOTF for short. SMPTE has published a standard for this transfer function in ST-2084 (commonly referred to as “Perceptual Quantization” or “PQ” for short), and this has been adopted by three of the delivery standards.

Other transfer functions have also been proposed and adopted — specifically HLG, or “Hybrid Log Gamma.” The idea behind HLG is to offer some level of backwards compatibility with SDR displays (PQ is not backwards compatible with SDR displays). It offers somewhat reduced luminance capabilities, but retains all of the color detail — of course, the SDR set needs to understand Rec.2020 color space in order to reproduce all of those colors.

METADATA

Modern displays have different properties and capabilities, depending on their underlying technologies. It is therefore crucial that we give the display information about the image, so that it can maximize its ability to produce the best possible picture. The minimum metadata set that the display needs are: (1) The RGB values of the black point, (2) The RGB values of the white point, (3) “MaxCLL” — Maximum Content Luminance Level — the value (in nits) of the brightest pixel in the entire clip and (4) “MaxFALL” — Maximum Frame Average Luminance Level — the value (in nits) of any single frame. MaxFALL is generally smaller than MaxCLL, and is a parameter used by the display to prevent damage if a frame exceeds its safe handling capability — OLED pixels, for example, can burn out if run at maximum intAppliensity for a period of time.

There are two versions of this metadata: Static (for the entire clip) and Dynamic (can change scene-by-scene or even frame-by-frame). Static metadata was adopted first, but, of course, is “set and forget.” Dynamic metadata allows the colorist to adjust settings on a scene-by-scene basis and therefore gives greater creative freedom.

We now have the information we need in order to be able to compare the individual formats.

HDR10

This is the base level standard. It uses 10-bit resolution (hence the name), the PQ transfer function and static metadata, and is targeted at broadcast, Blu-ray and VOD applications. It is not compatible with SDR displays, so any media company who wishes their content to be available in both HDR and SDR must process the media through two separate paths (or at least a final conversion stage).

HDR10+

This is HDR 10 with the addition of dynamic metadata. The clip will still contain the static metadata, though, so HDR10 displays that lack the dynamic capabilities can still reproduce the image

HLG

This format is being championed by the BBC and Japan’s NHK. It does not use metadata at all, relying on the HLG transfer function to manage the image. It is particularly targeted at live broadcast, but its main advantage is that it is backwardly compatible with SDR. The HLG transfer function can result in color shifts or desaturation, however.

DOLBY VISION

This format uses 12-bit quantization (which in theory means that a compatible display could go as bright as 10,000 nits!), so it has quite a bit more resolution than the other formats. It uses the PQ transfer function and provides both static and dynamic metadata. This is a proprietary, licensed system however.

Paul Turner is founder of Turner Media Consulting and can be reached at pault@turnerconsulting.tv.

Other articles in this series:

HDR and the Science of Color

The Practical Side of HDR

Candelas and Lumens and Nits – Oh, My!!

How We See: The Human Visual System

HDR: What Is It And Why Do We Need It?

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LOS GATOS, CALIF.—Netflix has announced it has added Dolby Atmos sound to all its new original content, beginning with Bong Joon-ho’s “Okja.”

The film is also being presented in Dolby Vision, the company’s high-dynamic range video format.

The combined Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision streaming experience from Netflix will be available on 2017 LG OLED TVs pending an update soon.

Netflix says it plans to roll out support to additional devices “over time,” making the Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision combined experience more accessible to Netflix users around the world.

“Netflix and Dolby share the same vision for delivering spectacular experiences to consumers,” said Giles Baker, senior vice president, Consumer Entertainment Group, Dolby Laboratories. “With consumers already able to experience Dolby Vision on Netflix, it was a natural continuation of our partnership to bring a new level of immersive audio with Dolby Atmos to Netflix members around the world.”

“With the addition of Dolby Atmos support on Netflix, we are enabled to deliver the most cutting-edge experience to our global members and provide another creative tool to the artists,” added Greg Peters, chief product officer, Netflix. “I’m excited for Netflix members all over the world to be able to get a theater-quality experience in the comfort of their own homes.”

This story first appeared on TVT's sister publication TVB Europe. 

SAN FRANCISCO—A slate of films from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment now available on the VUDU streaming service have added Dolby Vision HDR imaging. Among the films include “The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” “Lucy,” “Oblivion” and “Lone Survivor;” “Lucy” and “Oblivion” have also added Dolby Atmos moving audio.

Dolby Vision combines HDR and wide color gamut for its hi-res images. Dolby Atmos allows sound to move around a room in a three-dimensional way for an immersive experience.

Dolby Vision is also employed streaming services Netflix and Amazon for some of its titles.

SAN FRANCISCO—Fans of the Amazon original series “Bosch” are getting an upgrade for season two, as Dolby Laboratories and Amazon are offering the new season in Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range on Amazon Video. Users with Dolby Vision enabled smart TVs will be able to access the new resolution versions of the content.

Dolby Vision combines HDR and wide color gamut to deliver its high-resolution images.

In addition to the second season of “Bosch,” Amazon Video users will be able to purchase select films from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment that have added Dolby Vision. These include “The Smurfs 2,” “After Earth,” “Men in Black 3,” “Hancock,” “Pineapple Express,” “Fury,” “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” “Chappie” and “Elysium.”

Starting today, Monday, June 27, these titles are available on Amazon Video in Dolby Vision.

IRVINE, CALIF.—Vizio and Dolby Laboratories have announced the pricing and availability of the new Vizio Reference Series HDTVs, with a 120-inch version going for a starting price of $129,999.99; the 65-inch model starts at $5,999.99. The TV features Dolby Vision playback technology for High Dynamic Range support, Ultra Color Spectrum for a wider color gamut, an 800-nit, Full-Array LED backlight, 384 Active LED Zones, and a quantum dot panel in the 65-inch model.

Vizio Reference Series Ultra HD HDR LED Smart TV with Dolby Vision content support

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment offers a slate of remastered 4K Ultra HD movies available in Dolby Vision via Vudu, including “San Andreas,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Magic Mike XXL,” “Jupiter Ascending,” “Man of Steel,” “The Great Gatsby” and more. Dolby Vision is also offering content through Vudu, while Netflix has also announced it will remaster content in Dolby Vision.

Additional features for the Reference Series include 802.11ac dual-band Wi-Fi; Vizio Internet Apps Plus; support from HEVC H.265 codec and Vizio V6 six-core processor; HDMI ports; and audio technologies Dolby and DTS.

SAN FRANCISCO and HSINCHU, TAIWAN—MediaTek has announced that it will go with Dolby Laboratories’ Dolby Vision 4K UHD system-on-a-chip technology for its high-dynamic range TVs, Ultra HD Blu-ray players, and digital media adapters.

Dolby Vision offers increased UHD and HD video signals for OTT online streaming, video on demand, broadcast, UHD Blu-Ray, and gaming applications. Dolby Vision’s VS10 universal HDR playback technology supports dual-layer and single-layer Dolby Vision streams and other HDR formats based on the SMPTE ST 2084 standard. This allows for peak brightness, local contrast and wider color gamut.

MediaTek is a developer of systems-on-chip technology for mobile devices, wireless networking, HDTV, DVD and Blu-ray. The company is headquartered in Taiwan.

Dolby Laboratories is a provider of audio, video and voice technology based out of San Francisco.