For consumers looking to purchase new 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ) TV sets , they might be well advised to ensure that their choices are HDR ( High Dynamic Range ) - enabled . In any event , 4K / UHD HDR screens may soon become ubiquitous .

The Consumer Electronics Association ( CEA ) last year published its definition of an ‘ HDR Compatible Display ’, while the UHD Alliance ( UDHA ) has established its first cross-industrydeveloped quality criteria for HDR across displays , content and distribution .

As HDR becomes increasingly synonymous with the 4K / UHD viewing experience , it was perhaps unsurprising that the recent CES 2016 in Las Vegas , USA , saw a number of TV manufacturers introducing a number of HDRcompatible screens . LG Electronics , for instance , announced that the LG 2016 OLED TVs and the company ’ s flagship Super UHD TVs will feature Dolby Vision technology , with consumers given access to UHD Dolby Vision-mastered content via digital retailers and Netflix .

Launched in 2014 by Dolby Laboratories — who is also a member of the UDHA — Dolby Vision combines HDR and WCG ( Wide Colour Gamut ) to produce images that , when compared to standard pictures , deliver brighter highlights , more light-to-dark contrast , and colours “ never seen before on TV ”. According to Brian Kwon , EVP and CEO of LG Home Entertainment Company , Dolby Vision enables LG to push the limits of contrast ratios and colour gamut , while redefining the picture quality of LG TVs .

Kevin Yeaman , president and CEO of Dolby Laboratories , added : “ Dolby Vision transforms the TV experience and when people see it , they ’ re blown away .”

Also adding Dolby Vision to enable HDR performance is US TV brand TCL , whose new TCL 65-inch XI 4K / UHD TVs are equipped with Dolby Vision technology to provide brightness of up to 40 times more intensity than today ’ s standard TV sets . Chris Larson , vice-president , sales and marketing , TCL North America , said : “ Dolby Vision is leading the market in HDR technology and , coupled with a wide selection of premium HDR streaming content , takes the XI series to the next level of performance .”

TCL and Dolby are also collaborating with major streaming service providers , such as VUDU , to provide the new TCL TVs with direct access to the latest HDR premium content from leading studios , such as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment .

Both companies have announced plans to deliver new release and catalogue titles mastered in Dolby Vision to home entertainment distribution partners this year .

Jose Guiterrez , EVP , Metro-Goldwyn-

Blazing a trail for HDR : Dolby Vision combines HDR and

WCG ( Wide Colour Gamut ) to produce images that , when compared to standard pictures , deliver brighter highlights , more light-todark contrast , and colours “ never seen before on TV ”.

Dolby Atmos can not only be enjoyed in the theatres , but also in the consumer home , as Dolby and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment recently inked an agreement for the release of SPHE titles in Dolby Atmos , including in the 4K / UHD disc format .

Mayer Studios , said : “ With 4K / UHD content becoming more prevalent , we are excited to provide consumers an elevated home-viewing experience and showcase our content with Dolby Vision HDR .”

Dolby Vision is a complement not only to 4K / UHD but also to HD . It is an end-to-end solution that works from content creation to distribution , and is also a universal playback solution for an enhanced viewing experience . Michael Bonner , EVP , Digital Distribution , Universal Pictures Home Entertainment , added : “ Together , [ Dolby and Universal Pictures ] are committed to ensuring that home entertainment consumers can enjoy the richest , most remarkable movie-watching experience yet with Dolby Vision .”

For moviegoers savouring the latest Hollywood blockbusters screened in theatres around the world , the immersive audio they enjoy would not be possible without Dolby ’ s renowned surround sound systems . And this could soon be a growing possibility for home entertainment , as Dolby and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment ( SPHE ) recently inked an agreement for SPHE titles in Dolby Atmos to be released over the next few years , including SPHE ’ s first films to be released in the 4K / UHD disc format .

Dolby Atmos delivers moving audio sound that places and moves specific sounds anywhere in the consumer home in 3D space , in order to bring entertainment alive all around the audience . It supports more than 60 AVRs and 24 speaker products , in addition to Dolby Atmos-enabled sound bar products .

Lauding the new partnership , Man Jit Singh , president of SPHE , said : “ By adding Dolby Atmos to our home entertainment content , SPHE has the ability to offer audiences a rich , enveloping sound experience on both physical and digital formats .”

Dolby ’ s drive to deliver the best audio experience does not end with the TV screen , as the company recognises the increasing shift in video consumption on connected mobile devices . Thus , Dolby Audio for Mobile applications were created to push the boundaries of audio and bring about a “ spectacular mobile entertainment experience ”.

Crucially , Dolby also aims to address the discrepancies in consumer satisfaction between the visual and audio quality of mobile watching . Quoting a study by market intelligence firm IDC , Dolby pointed out that only 33 % of mobile users were “ highly satisfied ” with their devices ’ audio quality .

Dolby Audio for Mobile applications provide features such as enhanced dialogue control and loudness management , which provide greater detail across a wide range of sounds . Viewers can also personalise their listening experience by selecting their preferred language in Dolby Audio quality , or a choice between home / away commentators while watching live sports .

Dolby 5.1 surround sound and Dolby Atmos allow viewers to feel like they are in the centre of the scene or live event , whether they are using headphones or built-in speakers . Dolby Audio for Mobile applications are also compatible across

device platforms to empower audiences , regardless of device OS , to fully immerse themselves in the stories playing out across their mobile screens .

Prominent operators such as Netflix and Amazon are already delivering Dolby-supported content to enabled devices , while Dolby reports that more than 30 major global content service providers , including HBO , Telefonica , NBA and Maxdome , have expressed interest in Dolby Audio for Mobile .

Another technology trend that Dolby is monitoring closely , particularly in South-east Asia , is HbbTV ( Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV ), a pan- European standard dedicated to provide the delivery of broadcast broadband services through connected TVs and set-top boxes .

HbbTV would also appear to be gaining traction in Asia-Pacific , with HbbTV services already launched in Australia and New Zealand . In Southeast Asia , countries such as Malaysia and Vietnam are reportedly looking to adopt HbbTV in their DTT platforms .

With South-east Asia pushing ahead to complete the transition from analogue to digital TV , this development provides an opportunity for the broadcast industry in the region to offer better picture and audio quality ; HbbTV can potentially elevate the TV experience to a new level , said Dolby , who is continuing to work with ASEAN broadcasters to ensure that the audio quality for HbbTV continues to be of “ broadcast quality ” so as to facilitate the transition between broadcast and online .

At a time when subscription-videoon-demand ( SVoD ) players such as Netflix are aggressively entering into the Asian market — and offering Dolby Audio — Dolby Audio via HbbTV may help to meet consumers ’ expectations for online content , and create a level playing field for broadcasters . ❑