4K HDR TV broadcasts are closer to becoming a reality after the Digital Video Broadcasting’s steering board upgraded the audio-vidual coding specification.
The new specification includes support for High Dynamic Range (HDR), Higher Frame Rates (HFR), and Next Generation Audio (NGA), all of which will be combined with HDTV and UHD resolutions.
The DVB is an industry-led consortium of TV and technology companies, including manufacturers, software developers, network operators, broadcasters and regulators.
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These companies “design open technical standards for the delivery of digital TV and other broadcast services,” according to the official DVB site.
In its press release, the DVB said: “The new specification is a major milestone for the industry, allowing broadcasters and CE manufacturers to provide enhanced video and audio in their products and services.
“This will enable DVB services offering UHDTV with HDR. This would be the first element of UHD-1 Phase 2 features to be implemented and could be available from next year.”
While manufacturers and broadcasters still have to adopt the new improvements, the fact they could be available next year bodes well for the first 4K HDR broadcasts arriving in 2017.
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Currently, most 4K content is delivered by streaming services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, but recently the BBC produced Planet Earth 2 in 4K.
However, the show was not broadcast in UHD resolution, but with the recent changes, we could soon see such a broadcast taking place.
Of course, there are more hurdles to overcome until that happens, but it’s a step in the right direction for now.
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Let us know what you make of the 4K HDR news in the comments.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
