The HDMI Forum has released the HDMI 2.0a specification. The main purpose of the update is to "enable transmission of HDR formats, which provide enhanced picture quality by simultaneously enabling greater detail for both the dark and bright parts of an image". HDR is a planned feature for new Hollywood content.
Video connector standards are constantly evolving and some bring more important, or desirable, features than others. The new HDMI 2.0a specification caters for quite a specific use-case of the transmission of HDR formats. Using the new standard will help provide an enhanced picture quality to users with greater detail in both bright and dark parts of on screen images.
"We recognized that HDR would be a critical feature as the industry evolves. Our support for HDR enables our 800+ HDMI 2.0 Adopters to develop market-leading products that include HDR and will maintain interoperability across the entire HDMI ecosystem," said Robert Blanchard, President of the HDMI Forum, Inc. The HDR update makes reference to the CEA-861.3 HDR Static Metadata Extensions.
Arnold Brown, Chairman of the HDMI Forum, Inc. Board of Directors revealed that the impetus behind the new HDMI 2.0a specification is Hollywood rather than consumer demand. Brown said that the new specification would support the latest video formats and HDR imagery as planned by Hollywood studios.
