Kaleidescape Joins 8K Association, Netflix Adds HDR10+

Kaleidescape has joined the 8K Association (8KA), a not-for-profit organization composed of key technology and content companies in the consumer and professional 8K ecosystem. The 8KA mission is to accelerate industry-wide adoption of 8K content, products, and services. Kaleidescape says that this strategic alliance “underscores Kaleidescape’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of home entertainment.” 

The Kaleidescape platform is at the forefront of technological innovation, providing the best audio and video quality available — at a price. Kaleidescape is the only digital downloads provider with lossless audio and full reference video quality. This announcement is the first hint we’ve seen that the company is preparing to offer 8K content in the future.

Joining the 8KA positions Kaleidescape alongside other industry leaders, committed to fostering a collaborative environment, and dedicated to the advancement and standardization of 8K technology. As consumers demand larger screens, higher-fidelity, and increasingly immersive experiences, Kaleidescape’s involvement in the 8KA will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of premium home cinema.

— Tayloe Stansbury, Chairman and CEO, Kaleidescape

We are thrilled to welcome Kaleidescape to the 8K Association. Their expertise in delivering premium home cinema solutions and their dedication to quality make them a valuable addition to our organization. Together, we will continue to advance the 8K ecosystem and bring the next generation of visual entertainment to consumers worldwide.

— Juan Reyes, Executive Director of the 8KA

Netflix Now Streaming in HDR10+

Netflix has announced that the streaming service is now offering content in the HDR10+ format on devices compatible with the AV1 video codec. Netflix says that the dynamic metadata included in its HDR10+ content “improves the quality and accuracy of the picture when viewed on these devices.” The AV1 video codec was standardized by the Alliance for Open Media (AOM) in 2018. Netflix already offers content in Dolby Vision, but some displays (Samsung TVs, in particular) do not support Dolby Vision, opting instead to support HDR10+.

According to Netflix, the company has been adding HDR10+ streams to both new releases and existing popular HDR titles. So far, about 50% of all eligible viewing hours are available in AV1-HDR10+, and the company aims to offer an HDR10+ experience for all HDR titles by the end of 2025.

The most widely-adopted HDR format is HDR10, which is supported by all devices capable of HDR video. HDR10 uses static metadata — i.e., metadata that is defined once for the entire piece of content — detailing aspects such as the maximum content light level (MaxCLL) and maximum frame average light level (MaxFALL). Both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are technically superior because they provide dynamic metadata, which “provides content image statistics on a per-frame basis, enabling optimized tone-mapping adjustments for each scene,” according to the announcement from Netflix.

Samsung TV owners will benefit from this change the most, since Samsung chooses not to support Dolby Vision. Users of Samsung TVs can pair them with the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) or Google TV streaming boxes, both of which support Netflix’s HDR10+ content. Many other TV brands, such as Hisense, Panasonic, and TCL, support both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.  

Although Netflix is now offering content in HDR10+, the company only accepts Dolby Vision masters from studios. These can be converted to HDR10+, HDR10, and SDR. Amazon Prime Video also offers HDR10+ content, as does Apple TV+. Disney+ reportedly plans to add HDR10+ content later in 2025.