Sky tests HDR TV in DFL Supercup broadcast

Sky in Germany has concluded what it describes as another successful test of Ultra HD TV, airing coverage of women’s football’s DFL Supercup between VFL Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich.

The trial broadcast marked the first live use of High Dynamic Range (HDR) TV, giving greater contrast and sharper colour.

Sky said this was the first HDR had been tested through the entire production chain, from the camera to the TV screen.

HDR provides a more accurate representation of dark areas of an image while increasing the brightness in other areas.

Sky teamed up with the DFL and Sony for the transmission, which delivered HDR images in different formats from a Sony HDC-4300 camera with attached BVM-X300 HDR video monitor to a range of Sony Ultra-HD TVs.

Stefan Kunz, vice-president of business and distribution services at Sky Deutshcland, said that HDR was “a major enhancement” for Ultra HD that would allow Sky to further differentiate its UHD offering. Kunz said that Sky would conduct further tests to perfect the technology.