Korea Telecom promoting HDR movies with Warner Bros. 65 movies by year end

[DCI forum]

Korea Telecom is planning on having 65 HDR movies from various studio's starting with Warner Bros. by the end of the year.

KT teams up with Samsung, Warner Bros to promote HDR tech

South Korean network operator KT has joined hands with tech giant Samsung Electronics and media content producer Warner Bros. Home Entertainment to commercialize high-dynamic-range imaging -- a next-generation video technology that produces more dynamic images.

During a media event on July 12 in Seoul, KT unveiled a lineup of services and products utilizing HDR.

Yoo Hee-kwan, KT’s head of media business, introduces the firm’s HDR services at the press meeting in Seoul on July 12. KT

Among them are movies such as, “Batman vs. Superman: the start of Justice,” and “Mad Max Furious,” developed in partnership with the US content provider.

KT said it would team up with other media content firms to introduce a total of 65 HDR-compatible movies by the end of this year.

“Our new HDR lineup will serve as a bridge that connects our partners, thereby creating a favorable environment for content providers, and platform and TV manufacturing companies,” said Yoo Hee-kwan, KT’s head of media business at the event.

He added that KT would work on creating a global ecosystem suitable for HDR technology.

Industry experts say HDR TVs create images that are sharper and more in detail. It also allows for more natural, life-like colors to create a generally more dynamic images.

By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DCI forum]

More Vivid Verisimilitude
KT to Apply HDR Technology to Olleh TV
Yoo Hee-kwan, head of the media business division at KT, announces to apply HDR technology to Olleh TV during a press conference held at the KT Square in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on July 12.

SEOUL, KOREA
13 July 2016 - 11:15am
Cho Jin-young
South Korea’s leading telecom service operator KT Corp. will apply high dynamic range (HDR) technology, which increases color vividness, to its Internet protocol television (IPTV) service Olleh TV.

The company held a press conference at the KT Square in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on July 12 to announce the commercialization of HDR service for IPTV, along with Samsung Electronics and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. At the conference, it said that it developed a set-top box exclusively to allow HDR technology.

HDR technology in Ultra High Definition (UHD) screens would increase color vividness twice from the existing 4K UHD screens and raise the contrast by 10 times. Accordingly, it can expresses light and shade clearer. Industry watchers expect that HDR technology would be required in UHD TVs.

KT will provide 65 HDR contents together with numerous content providers, including Warner Bros. Entertainment, through its service by the end of the year, starting with “Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

Yoo Hee-kwan, head of the media business division at KT, said, “Currently, 65 contents are under negotiation. We will also keep the door open to negotiate with any content producers in order to provide HDR contents in the future. Starting with the partnership with Samsung Electronics and Warner Bros., we are aiming to create the HDR ecosystem and vitalize the related industry, along with platform, device and content providers.”