Google Play launches HDR movies for Chromecast Ultra

Chromecast Ultra

Google Play Movies & TV has become the latest online video provider to add support to HDR for TV viewers via its Chromecast Ultra device.

Google will make HDR movies available in the US and Canada initially, and content will only be available via Chromecast Ultra, plugged into an HDR-compatible TV. The content is not currently available via Android TV devices.

Sony and Warner Bros are supporting the rollout, making content available including Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Most movies are available for around US$30.

Google is only making HDR playback available for 4K UHD movies.

Google launched Chromecast Ultra, the latest version of its popular HDMI streaming stick, in October last year, initially making 4K content from Netflix, YouTube and Vudu available via the device. The devices support the HDR10 and Dolby Vision versions of HDR.

Google is the latest online video provider to support HDR. Amazon announced support for HDR10 in partnership with Samsung two years ago, while Google’s own online streaming platform YouTube announced support for HDR videos on the platform in November last year, including via HDR-enabled TVs with Chromecast Ultra.