Netflix has announced the first of string of titles, including hit superhero shows Daredevil and Jessica Jones, that are due to get the HDR treatment later this year.
In addition to 4K Ultra HD streams being four times as detailed as Full HD streams, HDR (High Dynamic Range) allows for a much greater range of colours and contrasts, making content look even more vivid and lifelike.
Netflix has been keen on adding HDR to its platform for some time; right now you can enjoy Netflix Original series Marco Polo in HDR to get a taster for what it’s like but come August, there should be over 100 hours of content with HDR ready to go.
What is 4K? Ultra HD, 8K and Super Hi-Vision TV explained, How can I watch Netflix on my TV?As well as Daredevil and Jessica Jones, Netflix plans to update give A Series of Unfortunate Events, Bloodline, Chef’s Table, Hibana, Knights of Sidonia, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, The Defenders, The Do-Over, and The Ridiculous Six the HDR treatment.
These shows will also support Dolby Vision (capable of supporting higher levels of brightnss than standard HDR), provided you’ve got a TV set that can support this.
As well as having a TV set that can support HDR or Dolby Vision, you’re also going to need a superfast broadband service. Netflix recommends 25Mbps of spare bandwidth, in other words, you need to be getting in excess of this from your ISP, for its 4K Ultra HD streams. A Netflix Premium subscription (£8.99/month) is needed to access 4K content.
By the end of 2016, Netflix wants to add an extra 50 hours of HDR programming to its stable, but it’s not naming any names yet.
Neil Hunt, chief product officer at Netflix said: “We’re looking forward to providing a visually stunning experience across a diverse slate of content to Netflix members all over the world – whether it’s a docuseries about international culinary talents, Japanese anime, or TV shows about fighting crime in the streets of Hell’s Kitchen.”
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