We have been telling you what the different HDR formats consist of for a few days. We have discussed HDR10, the standard we find in all devices. We have also talked about Dolby Vision, which is increasingly present. And just yesterday, we told you what  Technicolor is, a European standard that seeks to optimize the image. Today is the turn of HLG, the HDR standard for television broadcasts.
WHAT IS HLG?
As we have seen, the different HDR formats are present in Blu-Ray UHD optical discs and in streaming services. However, what about television broadcasts?
This is where the HLG fits in. The Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) standard is intended to bring HDR to live television broadcasts. The BBC television channels in the United Kingdom and NHK in Japan are developing this project. It is currently a system in development, with the goal set at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
But why is a special standard necessary? According to BBC technicians, current HDR technology is very sensitive to interference and loss of connection. And it’s no surprise because HDR10 and Dolby Vision use metadata to tell TVs how to display the image. This system can be used in prepared content, such as movies or series, but not live broadcasts.
For this reason, the HLG system began to be developed, combining standard dynamic and high dynamic range images in a single video signal. This is played as SDR on normal screens and HDR on HLG-compatible screens.
A good example of what the HLG can do can be seen in the broadcast of a football match in which we have areas of the field with sun and areas with shade. The HDR system is capable of displaying maximum detail in both areas.
HOW CAN I WATCH HLG?
The fact that the HLG system mixes the SDR signal with the HDR signal does not mean we do not need a compatible device to reproduce it. To view the images in HLG format, we need a compatible television.
Luckily most manufacturers, including LG, have confirmed that their televisions will be compatible with HLG. And not just the newer models, but also the 2017 models and even some from 2016, thanks to a firmware update.
Some projectors will also include this system, especially the higher-end models. Even Android TV will incorporate HLG in version 7.0.
WHAT CONTENT IS AVAILABLE ON HLG?
The HLG system is designed for terrestrial, cable, and satellite television transmissions. Still, we have virtually no content on this system.
Until recently, only a few tests had been issued at technology fairs and press events. On the other hand, the BBC broadcast in December 2016 aired a four-minute clip of Planet Earth II in 4K and HLG.
In December 2017, the BBC released all seven episodes of Blue Planet II in 4K and HLG on its iPlayer service. However, this content only lasted 30 days on the platform.
As for the Spanish market, Mediapro announced its intention to broadcast Spanish La Liga soccer on HLG. On the other hand, Google has ensured that HDR YouTube videos will support HLG encoding. Even satellite TV providers, like Sky or Eutelsat, will have some channels dedicated to HLG.
There is no doubt that there is still a long way to go before the HLG system becomes something normal in the broadcasts of all countries. Even more so if we talk about public television. Possibly many of us have changed television when this arrives.
So, if you have a couple of years old television, don’t worry because they don’t have the HLG format. However, if we buy a new television, it would be interesting to ensure that it will include the HLG format, even through a software update.
I am a writer with eight years of experience writing in business and technology. I always carry a passion for learning and discovering new knowledge.