Jordan O'BrienThe UHD Alliance has revealed its specification for content and products which can be considered ‘UltraHD Premium’.
Companies such as Netflix, LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, Dolby, Sharp and numerous Hollywood Studios, joint forces last year in the hope of setting the bar for 4K content.
When the UHD Alliance began, all the companies agreed to work on 4K video, High Dynamic Range, wide colour gamut and immersive audio – and one of those standards has been revealed.
The UltraHD Premium logo can only be used on products and services that comply with performance metrics, HDR, peak luminance, black levels and wide colour gamuts, among others.
Other features such as the use of immersive audio will be recommended, but not mandatory to get the seal of approval from UHD.
Everything from television sets to UltraHD Blu-Rays will be eligible to carry the UltraHD Premium logo, as long as it complies with the specification.
“The diverse group of UHDA companies agreed that to realize the full potential of Ultra HD the specs need to go beyond resolution and address enhancements like HDR, expanded colour and ultimately even immersive audio. Consumer testing confirmed this,” says UHD Alliance president Hanno Basse.
“The criteria established by this broad cross section of the Ultra HD ecosystem enables the delivery of a revolutionary in-home experience and the ULTRA HD PREMIUM logo gives consumers a single, identifying mark to seek out so they can purchase with confidence.”
Many of the biggest brands set to offer 4K content are part of the UHDA, but it doesn’t mean that those from manufacturers outside the alliance’s sphere of influence will be any worse for it.
Right now only UHDA members will get their products tested in centres around the globe, but some TV brands, like Vizio in the US, will still be able to beat the specifications – with that company’s latest TVs utilising Dolby’s HDR technology.
LG has already revealed that its 2016 OLED 4K line-up ‘exceeds’ the specifications set by the UHDA, although it’s likely that many companies will make the same claim as they release their latest television sets.
Notably missing from the UHDA are BT and Virgin Media, the former of which already offers 4K content in the UK. Sky however, who has announced its 4K plans for 2016, is a member, meaning when the Sky Q eventually does launch, it’ll likely carry the UltraHD Premium logo.