4k UHD Trial of Planet Earth II in HDR
Posted by ±«Óãtv Research and Development on , last updated
±«Óãtv iPlayer will stream four stunning minutes of Planet Earth II footage in the highest quality the ±«Óãtv has ever broadcast. The experimental footage will be available in Ultra HD and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) on compatible connected TVs and set-top boxes from today until early next year.
Filming provided the perfect opportunity to capture the ±«Óãtv’s world-class documentary making in unprecedented quality. The test footage follows a jaguar emerging from the shadows to stalk prey and the mesmerising effects of rain dropping on tiny animals and their habitats, including a range of greens and a frog in a shade of red never before seen on a TV.
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The experiment is an early but important step toward streaming high-quality Ultra HD programmes on ±«Óãtv iPlayer in the future. Central to the trial is , which the ±«Óãtv sees as an integral part of future Ultra HD programming. Where Ultra HD improves image quality by increasing the number of pixels in a TV set, HLG takes this one step further by providing better quality pixels.
"Yes, it is pretty jaw-dropping."
As a form of , HLG works by enabling images to be shown in extremely high contrast. This provides greater sharpness, extended detail in the shadows and dark areas of the picture, a wider range of colours, and more natural and brighter highlights and mirror-like reflections.
The public Ultra HD and HLG test on ±«Óãtv iPlayer allows the corporation to better understand how the technology affects existing infrastructure and workflows. It also allows the team to identify the various obstacles and challenges to streaming full length programmes.
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, Head of Broadcast & Connected Systems, ±«Óãtv Research & Development, says: “Increasing the dynamic range of TV images – it’s closer to looking through a window than watching a standard TV set. Crucially, HLG works with existing TV technology and workflows making it ideal for broadcasters, and audiences, all over the world.”
Dan Taylor-Watt, Head of ±«Óãtv iPlayer, says: “The extra quality HLG brings to Ultra HD needs to be seen to be believed. It’s still early days for the technology but this experiment puts us in the best possible position once audience demand is there. This year we’ve brought live events like the Euros and Olympics to iPlayer, introduced new personalised features and now we’re giving people a glimpse of what the future may hold.”
"Motherboard can confirm the experience was mind-blowing"
and to address the complex needs of TV broadcasters. It’s also based on open standards to ensure all audiences can enjoy the best possible Ultra HD experience in the future. HLG .
The ±«Óãtv is using an experimental stream in Ultra HD and HLG, where the content is graded in HLG and is being streamed as an HLG signal. On supported devices you will be able to watch four stunning minutes of footage from Planet Earth II in Ultra HD and, in time, HLG. One of the aims of the trial is to work with TV and set-top box manufacturers to enable HLG support and
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from the ±«Óãtv Academy including:
This post is part of the Broadcast and Connected Systems section