Netflix enables HDR content for smartphones, lowers mobile data requirements
. Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, gave a keynote speech on the mobile availability of HDR content, and a new encoding technique that allows videos to stream at >200Kbps.
With the advent of HDR-capable smartphones like the LG G6 and Sony Xperia XZ Premium showing up at MWC 2017, it was inevitable for streaming services like Netflix to serve up HDR-enabled content for mobile users. Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, gave a keynote speech on the availability of HDR content, but on mobile platforms.
Previously, Netflix pushed out HDR-enabled shows for select titles. Options were very limited back then, as Netflix was still building up their catalog of HDR content, and it didn’t help that HDR was exclusively limited to folks who own a HDR-enabled television set.
Of course, Netflix’s HDR catalog is still growing, with the Marvel’s Iron Fist series (made by and only available on Netflix, officially) being next HDR release – the first season will be available come 17th March 2017.
On top of better HDR accessibility, Netflix is also releasing a new encoding technique “soon”. This allows mobile data users to watch their shows at less than 200Kbps, allowing folks with 2GB data caps to get in 30 hours of content. According to them, users in South Korea, Japan and India are more likely to watch on mobile, while Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong, and India-based users are big on downloading – the latter are more prone to watching downloaded content as opposed to streaming while on the move, which is a sign of mobile data prudence.
Source: Netflix
Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.