John Mailhot, senior vice president, product management at Imagine Communications, gives an insight into how HDR is impacting live production today, as well as the very near future
By Contributor
Published: May 16, 2024
John Mailhot, senior vice president, product management at Imagine Communications, gives an insight into how HDR is impacting live production today, as well as the very near future
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin> John Mailhot, senior vice president, product management at Imagine Communications, gives an insight into how HDR is impacting live production today, as well as the very near future
https://www.tvbeurope.com/features/a-year-in-live-hdr-production title=Share via Email class=share-email>
This time last year, there was a strong expectation that by 2024, live HDR production would be poised to take the broadcast industry by storm. This forecast has indeed materialised, with HDR production being used more and more, but with a twist. Within the industry, there has been a common tendency to conflate UHD and HDR - a presumption that live productions would predominantly feature UHD with HDR. However, as the broadcast community delves deeper into consumer preferences and factors that drive consumer behaviour, it has become evident that HDR stands out as the driver of consumer sentiment.
HDR's differentiating value HDR's impact on picture quality is quite remarkable, easily noticeable to even the most casual of viewers. In contrast, the differential value of UHD resolution isn't immediately apparent. Even tech-savvy consumers may find themselves checking the stream information to ascertain whether the content is indeed UHD. Furthermore, the costs associated with producing and distributing UHD-resolution content continue to be cost-prohibitive for all but the largest events.
John Mailhot, senior vice president, product management, Imagine Communications As more and more consumers acquire displays that support HDR - and become accustomed to its visual superiority in their digital viewing experiences - the demand for broadcasters to adopt HDR in their live productions continues to increase, a trend that hasn't been observed with UHD. Consequently, over the last year, we've seen that real productions of scale are being delivered in 1080p with HDR, with the industry coalescing on the use of hybrid log-gamma (HLG) for live event production, along with branded perceptual quantiser (PQ) variations for content distribution.
The rise of the single-master HDR workflow Even though there's an increasing demand for HDR among viewers, the vast bulk of the audience is still reached through SDR distribution. As a result, an essential element in HDR production is the ability to produce both HDR and SDR versions with high quality using a single-master workflow. In the past, the absence of such workflows presented a significant obstacle to the widespread adoption of live HDR productions. This scenario started to shift a few years ago, when NBCUniversal pioneered and freely published their single-master workflow for high-profile events.
Over the last year, most broadcasters have implemented variations on this single-master workflow, concentrating on tightly specifying the SDR conversion. As a result, today the majority of large and medium-sized broadcasters have at least experimented with workflows that support HDR, while simultaneously ensuring that the SDR distribution remains visually excellent. Now they are honing these workflows to cater to events of varying sizes and extending their HDR distribution capability to a wider range of viewers.
Distribution Is still limited Despite broadcasters largely overcoming production hurdles, the delivery of HDR content continues to pose challenges. As we saw last year, streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and AppleTV+ still hold a notable advantage because of their over-the-top model. Their edge stems from their capacity to separately stream either HDR or SDR signals to any given viewer (over the internet) efficiently. These streaming services are also equipped to offer a variety of VoD-based HDR content, giving viewers a wide selection to choose from.
In contrast, for cable and satellite services, delivering HDR content to audiences necessitates the use of specialised set-top boxes. And for over-the-air systems, while technologies like ATSC 3.0 and DVB-T2 are capable of supporting 1080p resolution and HDR, they are still in trial phases for these capabilities.
Real-world HDR production Is here Anticipating growth in delivering HDR content, there has been significant investment in producing 1080p HDR, with an increasing number of productions embracing this technology. In the past year, a number of high-profile events took the plunge, such as Amazon Prime Video rolling out HDR streaming for Thursday Night Football. And recently, CBS Sports broadcasted Super Bowl LVIII in both 1080p HDR and 4K HDR via Paramount+, covering not only the game, but also the pregame, halftime, and postgame programming.
Looking ahead, the 2024 Paris Summer Games are expected to mark a significant milestone in live HDR broadcasting, with several world broadcasters planning to incorporate HDR productions to varying extents. France T l visions, for instance, is gearing up for the games with plans to launch a 4K broadcast service that will showcase original UHD programming with HDR support.
In summary Over the last few years, HDR technology has transitioned from the conceptual stage to practical implementation. What was once a highly anticipated trend in the industry is now becoming a reality, with various industry players not just testing HDR, but effectively incorporating it into their live productions. Its adoption has necessitated a focus on operational efficiency and an understanding of the
Europe Stories
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
04/09/2025
Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), in collaboration with Dalet, has been a...
07/08/2025
July 8 2025, 22:30 (PDT) Tata Motors & Dolby Bring Dolby Atmos to Harrier.ev, R...
11/07/2025
If you've ever wondered what might be playing in Clark Kent's headphones...
11/07/2025
AI and Multimedia Authenticity Standards Collaboration launches two papers to guide the future of AI integration, today at the AI for Good Global Summit
The...
10/07/2025
The current holder of the prestigious Thomson Foundation Young Journalist of the Year Award has been forced to stop reporting over fears for her safety in Afgha...
10/07/2025
Spotify is turning up the volume on Australian music with a multipronged initiative designed to highlight the dominance of Australian artists on the global stag...
10/07/2025
This is not a drill: Oasis is back on the road-marking its first live performanc...
10/07/2025
The music industry depends on fresh ideas, bold voices, and emerging talent. Yet across the U.K., too many young musicians lack the space to develop their craft...
10/07/2025
10 Jul 2025
VEON and Cohen Circle Secure Investor Commitments for Kyivstar Listing Kyiv, New York, Dubai, and Philadelphia - July 10, 2025 - VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq:...
10/07/2025
Thursday 10 July 2025
The Very Small Creatures
Jaime's Treetop Tales
Emerald
BooSnoo! Christmas Mashup
Pip & Posy's Spooktacular Party
The Very Sm...
10/07/2025
Thursday 10 July 2025
Brand new rewards are coming to Sky customers, with free ...
10/07/2025
Comscore Achieves Full JIC Certification for National TV Measurement Including...
09/07/2025
Wednesday 9 July 2025
Sky Broadband now has the UK's fastest broadband spee...
09/07/2025
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced Jeff Williams will transition his role as chief operating officer later this month to Sabih Khan, Apple's senior...
08/07/2025
In an era where digital threats to journalists are becoming increasingly aggressive and widespread, MediaSafe Africa launches as a vital online resource to help...
08/07/2025
This summer, as the energy builds for one of the biggest moments in women's ...
08/07/2025
UKTV today announces that Richard Watsham, Chief Creative Officer at UKTV and Global Director of Acquisitions for BBC Studios/UKTV, has decided to step down fro...
08/07/2025
SAN JOSE, Calif. - July 8, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced a reco...
08/07/2025
Arvato Systems Optimizes Customer Communication with AOK Niedersachsen
New project in the statutory health insurance sector
Arvato Systems and AOK Niedersach...
08/07/2025
On August 7, Apple Arcade is adding four exclusive games to its diverse catalogue of more than 200 fun games for players to enjoy, all free from ads and in-app ...
07/07/2025
** MEDIA ALERT **
VIZ Media Ignites AX 2025 with Star-Studded Panels, Exclus...
07/07/2025
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA As Apple Music marks its 10th anniversary this year, Apple unveils its most ambitious creative project to date: a brand-new state-of-the...
07/07/2025
RT has announced that Mark Bignell has been appointed Commissioning Editor for Comedy following a public competition. This senior editorial position will drive...
04/07/2025
The Summer Reading Challenge has inspired children across the U.K. to embrace a ...
04/07/2025
Friday 4 July 2025
Watch the trailer here https://youtu.be/Od5WpvWmDr8
Further...
04/07/2025
The Pitch comes to RT Radio 1 airwaves this Sunday at 7pm. The Pitch is a brand...
03/07/2025
For our Vario-Jib, as well as for a repertoire of weights, we now have carts that make transport easier...
03/07/2025
One of our latest innovations: Slider Drive Unit!
Our Vario Slider not only comes with improvements and new features, but also with its own drive unit!
Our i...
03/07/2025
The 360 EVO lives up to its name: 360-degree rotation not only on the pan axis, but also on the roll axis, enables filmmakers to take their creative visions eve...
03/07/2025
What a buzzing few days at BSCExpo in London!
We were thrilled to connect with so many talented professionals from the world of cinematography.
A huge thank ...
03/07/2025
ADOLESCENCE - Shot with Panther Tower"The whole rig had to be detachable mid-episode
Netflix limited drama series Adolescence has been gaining attentio...
03/07/2025
** MEDIA ALERT ** Shonen Jump Store Hosting Los Angeles Pop-up During Anime Exp...
03/07/2025
Thursday 3 July 2025
David Harewood and Matthew Broome in Mozart: Genius for Hi...
03/07/2025
The Sky WNT Fund supports Womens National Team players with a 30,000 bursaryThursday 3 July 2025
Sky Ireland has announced the four recipients of the 2025 Sky...
02/07/2025
Calrec expands ecosystem at NAB 2025 giving broadcasters access to dynamic workflows and ultimate flexibility Helping broadcasters meet the shifting needs of me...
02/07/2025
02 Jul 2025
VEON Raises USD 200 Million in Private Bond Placement Dubai, July 1, 2025: VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital operator ( VEON ), announces ...
02/07/2025
Brand new factual series follows mechanic and self-taught engineer Dom Chinea as he makes the move of his life to the far west of Cornwall
UKTV today announces...
02/07/2025
Rohde & Schwarz acquires ZES ZIMMER Electronic Systems GmbH and expands its T&M ...
02/07/2025
Wuppertal July 2, 2025
Riedel Communications Launches RefSuite Ecosystem for S...
02/07/2025
Andrew will serve as Chair of ABC alongside his role at NED, APL Media, where he supports the executive team with strategic insight and global expansion plans. ...
01/07/2025
The launch of Code of Silence, coupled with the Britains Got Talent semi final, gave ITV its best Sunday night of 2025.
The first episode of the new crime dr...
01/07/2025
ITV and Mammoth Screen have announced the start of filming for Betrayal, a gripp...
01/07/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
01/07/2025
Vocal-processing plug-in joins NOIZ Hub series
Launched in 2024, KIT Plugins' NOIZ Hub series was created with the aim of providing a range of professio...
01/07/2025
New self-paced learning programme announced
Mastering.com have announced the availability of a new online course designed to cover the fundamentals of maste...
01/07/2025
The Traitors are coming: Get your first taste of the global hit as Season 1 of T...
01/07/2025
cetecom advanced certifies Rohde & Schwarz test solution for the verification of...
01/07/2025
RT has announced that Teresa Smith has been appointed Commissioning Editor with responsibility for Factual Entertainment following a public competition. This s...
John Mailhot, senior vice president, product management at Imagine Communications, gives an insight into how HDR is impacting live production today, as well as the very near future
