Samsung announced today that it will support the world’s first 8K HDR10+ content, partnering with major European streaming services. With this announcement, Samsung has pretty much established itself as the leader of the HDR (High Dynamic Range) specification industry. CHILI, The Explorers and MEGOGO – three key OTT (Over-the-top) service providers in Europe – will adopt 8K HDR10+ along with its support for 4K HDR10+.
HDR10+ technology optimizes brightness and maximizes the contrast ratio, making bright areas brighter and
dark areas darker. The feature is available on all UHD TV and 2019 8K TV models, including Samsung’s lineup of QLED TVs.
“With HDR emerging as one of the most important technologies for ultra-high picture quality, our HDR10+ format enables every image to be accurately displayed on screen just as the creator intended,”
“We will continue to strengthen our industry leadership through establishing partnerships with top streaming service providers and equipping our televisions with the technology needed to support the world’s first 8K HDR10+.”
Hyogun Lee, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics.
Aside from the aforementioned streaming services, several other industry-leading content partners are collaborating with Samsung. Rakuten TV, Deutsche Telekom’s Magenta TV and Videociety are all expected to adopt HDR10+ support for its respective VOD services between Q4 2019 and Q1 2020.
While the amount of available content that support HDR10+ is still limited, it is certainly growing. Movies such as “The secret Life of Pets 2” and “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” may not exactly turn heads but Universal pictures and Warner Bros. have announced that the aforementioned films will debut the HDR10+ on UHD Blu-ray.
Since Samsung began the HDR10+ logo certification program with Panasonic and 20th Century Fox last year, 81 companies have joined the program, boosting the program’s influence in the industry. Samsung has also strengthened its effort with the new opening of a HDR10+ center in China last December, following Korea, Japan and the US.
Along with HDR10+ certifications of existing TVs and smartphone products, Samsung is working to implement the program for its B2B products. For example, micro LED models such as The Wall Pro and The Wall Lux have been HDR10+ certified, and the company plans to expand the ecosystem to include Samsung’s line of LED products.
Whatever it is, it’s certainly exciting times for the company, on the TV screen front, at least.
