Introduction to HDR10+ Streaming on Netflix

Netflix has announced its plan to add support for HDR10+ streaming in addition to its existing HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats. This addition is expected to enhance visual fidelity, particularly in Netflix’s often dark original content, by offering improved per-frame quality.

Technical Details of HDR10+ Implementation

The company is implementing HDR10+ using the AV1 codec, a specification that was originally released in 2018 and has become the standard for streaming 4K video efficiently. Initially, Netflix adopted AV1 to help customers save data while streaming on mobile devices, but it also facilitates the streaming of large HDR files. Netflix is starting by enabling HDR10+ on select popular titles and aims to eventually offer all HDR content in this new format. Users with a Netflix Premium subscription and devices that support both HDR10+ and AV1 (including most modern smartphones and tablets) will be able to enjoy compatible content in HDR10+.

The Importance of HDR in Modern Streaming

Following the introduction of 4K resolution, high dynamic range (HDR) has become a defining feature of modern TV and movies, especially in the context of streaming services. HDR content highlights the stark contrasts between light and dark areas of an image, a feature that is often lost without HDR support. The expectation that audiences will be viewing content on HDR-capable devices has led to a prevalence of dark, muted visuals in modern streaming TV, which can appear under-exposed and muddy on non-HDR devices. With HDR, viewers can appreciate the nuanced shades of gray that have become characteristic of prestige TV.

Netflix’s History with HDR Support

Netflix first introduced support for HDR in 2016 with the release of Marco Polo, and since then, it has made supporting Dolby Vision and HDR10, the most common HDR format, a standard on its platform. While viewers already using Dolby Vision may not notice a significant difference, those with TVs that only offer HDR10+ will likely experience an improvement in their viewing experience once HDR10+ support is added.