HDR becoming an expected feature of premium video, report finds
October 13, 2026 12.47 Europe/London By Julian Clover


High Dynamic Range is moving from a premium picture-quality differentiator towards a widely supported feature across the video ecosystem, according to a report from InterDigital and Parks Associates.

The report, High Dynamic Range and the Future of Video, examines HDR adoption across televisions, streaming services, live production, gaming and mobile devices. It finds that support for the technology has advanced faster than consumer understanding.

HDR expands brightness, contrast and colour, enabling a more lifelike picture. According to the research, advances in AI-assisted video enhancement, cloud production and next-generation codecs are helping reduce the technical and economic barriers to wider deployment.

While HDR is now commonplace in on-demand streaming, its use is also extending to live productions, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Winter Olympics.

The report suggests HDR will follow a similar trajectory to earlier picture-quality improvements, becoming a capability viewers expect across films, television, live events and games.

Lionel Oisel, Head of Video Labs at InterDigital, said consumers recognise the richer colour and deeper contrast HDR delivers, even when they do not know the technology by name. He said innovation in HDR, compression and delivery would be central to providing a consistent experience across screens.

Report author Michael Goodman, Director of Entertainment Research at Parks Associates, said the industry is working to improve interoperability, reduce production complexity and communicate HDR’s value to consumers.

InterDigital licenses patents covering HDR and other video technologies and is pursuing patent litigation against Disney.