After supporting 4K video, live streaming, 3D, 360° video and spatial audio, online video juggernaut YouTube is now to offer support for high dynamic range (HDR) video for its output.
YouTube believes that with HDR it is unlocking the most spectacular image quality it has ever streamed. It sees HDR videos as enabling the service to offer higher contrast, revealing precise, detailed shadows and highlights with more clarity than ever. Immediately, viewers can watch YouTube videos in HDR on supported devices, such as HDR TVs with the new Chromecast Ultra, and soon on all 2016 Samsung SUHD and Ultra HD TVs.
According to research from IHS Markit, HDR TV shipments will reach more than four million units by the end of 2016 and will grow to over 30 million units by 2020. Yet the market for HDR-compatible TVs — which the analyst defines as any set compatible with basic HDR formats but utilising standard dynamic range displays — will be as much as four times larger. Indeed, by 2020, IHS Markit expects that nearly all of the 112 million 4KTVs shipped worldwide will be compatible with HDR, but only 30% will have true HDR performance capabilities.
The company adds that as more HDR devices become available, it will work with partners to enable streaming of the HDR version. It is currently working with YouTube creators like MysteryGuitarMan, Jacob + Katie Schwarz, and Abandon Visuals to bring you content in HDR. Also starting immediately, any creator can upload HDR videos to YouTube.
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