The backers of the HDR10+ high dynamic range (HDR) profile are using IFA 2018 in Berlin, Germany this week to solicit and grow support and use for the technology among manufacturers and content producers through the newly formed HDR10+ Technologies joint venture.
The previously announced alliance and certification organization, which was started by HDR10+ founders 20th Century Fox, Panasonic Corporation and Samsung Electronics, revealed before the show started the first certified products and adopters for the HDR10+ license program.
Not surprisingly, Panasonic and Samsung are the first to announce that they have updated firmware through pushed downloads to select 2018 television models enabling support of HDR10+ dynamic metadata presentation.
According to a mission statement from the leaders of the joint venture, “HDR10+ advances the current industry standard of HDR and the HDR10 TV formats. As an upgraded version of HDR10, HDR10+ adds dynamic metadata to each frame. This optimal HDR data enables advanced chipsets from leading manufacturers to create a true-to-life picture across a wider range of displays.”
The group said the HDR10+ license program and corresponding logo will enable customers to ensure that HDR10+ compliant products meet high standards for picture quality, established to deliver the “true intent of filmmakers” within the following parameters:
- The display performance certification qualifies requirements on the display mode, peak luminance level, peak luminance stability, transfer function and white point tracking performance and color gamut coverage.
- The metadata processing certification qualifies carriage and accuracy of metadata over interfaces. The display management performance certification qualifies tone-mapping based on HDR10+ Metadata such as shadow preservation.
- The Ultra HD Blu-ray player certification qualifies the processing and accuracy of HDR10+ Metadata carriage over the HDMI interface.
The group further specified that depending on the category of adopter, certification can be obtained by self-certification or through an Authorized Testing Center (ATC) such as Allion and TTA – the first centers verified for HDR10+ certification.
Adopter categories include UHD Blu-ray player manufacturers, OTT set-top box manufacturers or service, display manufacturers, SoC vendors, content companies, tool vendors, and others which can be found at this link.
HDR10+ Technologies said it is now engaged in partnering with companies within the media ecosystem and that more than 80 companies have so far applied or completed the license program.
The group said the application process is made to be simple and available royalty free to content companies, display manufacturers, Blu-ray disc players/recorders, set-top box manufacturers, and SoC vendors. According to the group: only a “nominal administrative” fee is required annually with varying rates established according to product category.
Companies that have adopted HDR10+ for one or more categories so far include: Amlogic (SoC), Astrodesign (Tool), Digital Vision (Tool), FF Pictures (content, tool), Interra Systems (tool), MTI Film (tool), Novatech Microelectronics (SoC), Panasonic (source, display), Pixelogic Media Partners (tool), Pixtree (tool), Samsung Research America (source, display, SoC, tool), Sirius Pixels (tool), Synaptics (SoC), Twentieth Century Fox (content), US Screen (tool), Venera Technologies (tool), VideoQ (tool), Weka Media Publishing (content), and Yamzz IP BV (tool).
“A standardized licensing process has allowed partners, including content creators, television and device manufacturers, to easily incorporate HDR10+ technology,” stated Danny Kaye, 20th Century Fox executive VP and Fox Innovation Lab managing director. “We’re encouraged by the interest of early adopters and an expanded HDR10+ ecosystem that will improve the viewing experiences for all audiences.”
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20th Century Fox announced that it has committed to incorporating HDR10+ in its upcoming new release slate, and that the studio is currently exploring several titles for release in the marketplace with plans to announce availability “in the coming weeks.”
Toshiharu Tsutsui, Panasonic TV Business Division director, stated: through the deployment of a firmware update, the majority of our 2018 4K models (sold outside of the United States at this time) are now HDR10+ certified. That means consumers living in countries where Panasonic 4K Ultra HD televisions are still sold will be able to see the benefits of HDR10+ where available in content.
Samsung, which originally announced the development of the HDR10+ technology to the world, said the majority of its 2018 4K Ultra HD television lineup “will be fully certified for HDR10+” according to Bill Mandel, Samsung Research America industry relations VP. “We are collaborating with other HDR10+ adopters globally who are making tools, developing their own SoCs and/or TV line-ups to be HDR10+ compliant to provide consumers broad access to a great HDR experience.”
The company has not yet mentioned what (if any) plan it has to update firmware of 2017 and earlier Samsung 4K Ultra HD/HDR-ready televisions to support HDR10+. We are awaiting the company’s response to this question. (Check back for updates).
By Greg Tarr
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