http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Netflix-Begins-Showing-4K-HDR-Content-136721
Netflix is not only embracing 4K and ultra-HD well before most cable companies, it's also among the first to air high dynamic range (HDR) content. The company quietly began airing the first season of Marco Polo in 4K and HDR this week, after previously stating that HDR may be more important for overall quality than 4K. HDR generally provides brighter whites and darker blacks than a traditional 4K or HD signal. However outside of Amazon and now Netflix, very few streaming operators have provided the option.
“As of mid-March, we have been providing both Dolby Vision and HDR10 streams to supported TVs, giving Netflix members an even more visually stunning experience,” the company says of the quiet launch. “Marco Polo Season 1 is available now, with more titles — including Marvel’s Daredevil — coming soon.”
Netflix hopes to beat the traditional cable industry at its own game by providing 4K and HDR content at a time when many cable operators are struggling to even deliver normal 1080 HD. Only DirecTVhas really rushed to embrace 4K content, though to access DirecTV's three new 4K, non-HDR channels is notably expensive.
"It's less about packing more pixels on the screen like the move from HD to ultra-HD 4K was, it's about extending the total range of those pixels," Netflix's Chris Jaffe told attendees of Mobile World Congress earlier this year. "What that means is there's a much more photo realistic image that you're watching which is much more representative of the total range that your eye can see when you're just looking around in real life."
Netflix is not only embracing 4K and ultra-HD well before most cable companies, it's also among the first to air high dynamic range (HDR) content. The company quietly began airing the first season of Marco Polo in 4K and HDR this week, after previously stating that HDR may be more important for overall quality than 4K. HDR generally provides brighter whites and darker blacks than a traditional 4K or HD signal. However outside of Amazon and now Netflix, very few streaming operators have provided the option.
“As of mid-March, we have been providing both Dolby Vision and HDR10 streams to supported TVs, giving Netflix members an even more visually stunning experience,” the company says of the quiet launch. “Marco Polo Season 1 is available now, with more titles — including Marvel’s Daredevil — coming soon.”
Netflix hopes to beat the traditional cable industry at its own game by providing 4K and HDR content at a time when many cable operators are struggling to even deliver normal 1080 HD. Only DirecTVhas really rushed to embrace 4K content, though to access DirecTV's three new 4K, non-HDR channels is notably expensive.
"It's less about packing more pixels on the screen like the move from HD to ultra-HD 4K was, it's about extending the total range of those pixels," Netflix's Chris Jaffe told attendees of Mobile World Congress earlier this year. "What that means is there's a much more photo realistic image that you're watching which is much more representative of the total range that your eye can see when you're just looking around in real life."
