Netflix doubles down on HDR video in 2016

Streaming giant Netflix is adding more than 150 hours of High Dynamic Range content this year, looking beyond raw resolution to offer more vivid colours and extra detail in the shadows.Australian lounge rooms are slowly coming to terms with the new Ultra HD format, but I'd say High Dynamic Range is far more important when it comes to overall picture quality.

While Ultra HD resolution focuses on adding more pixels to create a sharper picture, HDR is basically about making better pixels – dramatically improving the picture regardless of the resolution and screen size.

To make the most of it you need a new HDR-compatible television with a 10-bit colour panel capable of displaying more colours. A range of television-makers have released HDR-capable Ultra HD televisions this year, including LG's latest flat OLEDs, while a HDR firmware update is available for a handful of last year's models.

These HDR televisions don't just display more colours, they also bump up the brightness and contrast so they're able to reveal more detail in the highlights and shadows – perfect for spotting baddies lurking in New York alleyways after dark.

So far there are no Netflix HDR-compatible set-top boxes in Australia, although that could change with the first Ultra HD Blu-ray players set to be announced in the next few weeks. HDR is an optional part of the Ultra HD Blu-ray disc standard, so it remains to be seen if movie makers embrace it.

It's possible these new disc players could feature built-in Ultra HD Netflix streaming with HDR, but your television would need an HDMI 2.0a port to take advantage of it. If your 2015-model television received an HDR firmware update it should be able to stream HDR directly from the internet, but it might not be able to display HDR content via the HDMI ports.

You'll still be able to watch Ultra HD content, you just won't see the benefits of HDR.

Right now Netflix is Australia's only source of HDR content, having dipped its toe in the water with its Netflix Originals Marco Polo and Daredevil. The streaming giant is ready to ramp up its HDR library, adding more than 100 hours of HDR programming by August with at least another 50 hours coming by the end of the year. Titles will include;

A Series of Unfortunate Events
Bloodline
Chef's Table
Hibana
Knights of Sidonia
Marvel's Daredevil
Marvel's Iron Fist
Marvel's Jessica Jones
Marvel's Luke Cage
Marvel's The Defenders
The Do-Over
The Ridiculous Six


Netflix's HDR content is compatible with both Ultra HD Premium and Dolby Vision televisions, but to take advantage of it you need to sign up for the top tier Netflix plan which entitles you to stream to four devices simultaneously.

The good thing is that Netflix's adaptive streaming technology can still offer the benefits of HDR even if your home broadband connection isn't fast enough to do Ultra HD justice.Is your lounge room ready to make the most of High Dynamic Range?

Are you more interested in Ultra HD HDR streaming or the upcoming Ultra HD Blu-ray disc format?