4K HDR TV broadcasts could go live by 2017

The Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) steering board's additions to the Ultra HD standard mean that more broadcasters should soon be able to provide "enhanced video and audio in their products and services".

Alongside HDR these improvements include Higher Frame Rates (HFR), which means content faster than 50/60 frames per second, and Next Generation Audio (NGA), which attempts to create more immserive sound using "object- or scene-based coding", like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

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The publication of these improvements may help broadcasters produce more 4K HDR broadcast content.

Many people get their Ultra HD content from streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, and broadcast television has yet to catch up.

The BBC is planning on bringing 4K content to the iPlayer, but while programs like Planet Earth 2 are being shot in Ultra HD it's still yet to be broadcast in that format.

However, while the DVB steering board say that this "could be available from next year", we'll still need to wait for the improvements to be adopted by hardware manufactuers and broadcasters. But it's a step in the right direction to better TV...

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[via Techradar]

Adam was a staff writer for What Hi-Fi?, reviewing consumer gadgets for online and print publication, as well as researching and producing features and advice pieces on new technology in the hi-fi industry. He has since worked for PC Mag as a contributing editor and is now a science and technology reporter for The Independent.