UHD Alliance announces "UHD Premium" specification & logo
What defines a good UHD TV? The UHD Alliance thinks it has the answer and with its new "UHD Premium" certification program it wants only the best TVs carry its logo.Ultra HD Premium specification
The UHD Alliance is formed TV manufacturers, Hollywood studios, content distributors and technology companies. The goal has been to create a premium specification for TVs and other links of the picture chain to ensure the best possible quality.
At CES, the UHD Alliance has revealed these specifications that cover for resolution, high dynamic range (HDR), peak luminance, black levels, color accuracy and wide color gamut among others. The specifications also make recommendations for immersive audio.
Independent test centers around the globe have been set up to certify TVs. The first TVs that carry the logo will be unveiled at CES 2016 later this week. However, judging from the technical requirements it appears that few - if any - 2015 TVs will pass.
- “The criteria established by this broad cross section of the Ultra HD ecosystem enables the delivery of a revolutionary in-home experience, and the ULTRA HD PREMIUM logo gives consumers a single, identifying mark to seek out so they can purchase with confidence.” the UHD Alliance said.Technical specifications overview
In UHD Alliance's own words:
The UHD Alliance has developed three specifications to support the next-generation premium home entertainment experience. The three specifications cover the entertainment ecosystem in the following categories:
Devices:
| The UHD Alliance supports various display technologies and consequently, have defined combinations of parameters to ensure a premium experience across a wide range of devices. In order to receive the UHD Alliance Premium Logo, the device must meet or exceed the following specifications: |
| Image Resolution: 3840x2160 |
| Color Bit Depth: 10-bit signal |
| Color Palette (Wide Color Gamut) |
| Signal Input: BT.2020 color representation |
| Display Reproduction: More than 90% of P3 colors |
| High Dynamic Range |
| SMPTE ST2084 EOTF |
| A combination of peak brightness and black level either: - More than 1000 nits peak brightness and less than 0.05 nits black level OR - More than 540 nits peak brightness and less than 0.0005 nits black level |
Distribution:
| Any distribution channel delivering the UHD Alliance content must support: |
| Image Resolution: 3840x2160 |
| Color Bit Depth: Minimum 10-bit signal |
| Color: BT.2020 color representation |
| High Dynamic Range: SMPTE ST2084 EOTF |
Content Master:
| The UHD Alliance Content Master must meet the following requirements: |
| Image Resolution: 3840x2160 |
| Color Bit Depth: Minimum 10-bit signal |
| Color: BT.2020 color representation |
| High Dynamic Range: SMPTE ST2084 EOTF |
Content Master:
| The UHD Alliance recommends the following mastering display specifications: |
| Display Reproduction: Minimum 100% of P3 colors |
| Peak Brightness: More than 1000 nits |
| Black Level: Less than 0.03 nits |
The UHD Alliance technical specifications prioritize image quality and recommend support for next-generation audio.
