In streaming, there’s a simple relationship between quality and satisfaction.
If the streaming quality is good, users are happy and don’t complain.
But if the streaming quality is poor, users howl and head for the exits. They ditch the service or device, or both.
Stands to reason. Quality can make or break the streaming experience. Offering premium quality is a hedge against churn.
Dolby Vision and Unified Streaming support
Dolby, the venerable audiovisual tech company, introduced to home theaters a premium quality format called Dolby Vision in 2014.
In April 2016, in software version 1.7.18, Unified Streaming integrated Dolby Vision support for DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP, aka MPEG-DASH) in its software suite.
In March 2018, Unified Streaming added Dolby Vision support for HLS (HTTP Live Streaming, developed by Apple). Since then, Unified has periodically added support for updates to the Dolby specification, the latest in March 2024.
Content in the Dolby Vision format is currently available on all major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Max, and Paramount+.
True to its mission, Dolby Vision sets a new standard for video quality and viewing experiences by enabling the creative intent to be delivered to viewers at home, at any price point.
What’s Dolby Vision, exactly?
So Dolby Vision is a high dynamic range (HDR) imaging technology.
Unlike standard dynamic range (SDR), which has a limited range of color and brightness, Dolby Vision produces more lifelike and immersive images.
Why? And how does it do that? Read on, my friend.
What’s Dolby Vision get you?
⁂ Enhanced color range
Dolby Vision supports a wider color spectrum, offering up to 68.7 billion colors. (SDR’s got only 16.7 million colors. Suckers!)
⁂ Superior contrast
With better contrast ratios, Dolby Vision illuminates intricate details in the darkest and brightest parts of the image.
⁂ Dynamic metadata
Awful term, to be honest, understandable only to techies. Just think of dynamic metadata as something that does frame-by-frame adjustments and ensures optimal viewing conditions despite the device’s display.
⁂ Improved brightness
Dolby Vision content can be up to 40x brighter than SDR, providing a more captivating viewing experience.
Why Dolby Vision is ‘important’
Importance is relative, naturally. But if you can appreciate image quality, consider the importance of Dolby Vision as its ability to show a pristine cinematic picture inside your home, and its ability to provide creative teams the confidence that their art will be faithfully reproduced on all TVs, PCs, and mobile devices that feature Dolby Vision.
Here are a few reasons why Dolby Vision is crucial for streaming companies and content deliverers.
⁂ Enhanced viewer engagement
Better picture quality triggers a more arresting viewing experience. Your viewers stay hooked longer.
⁂ Future-proofing content
As more people pony up for HDR-compatible devices, equipping your content with Dolby Vision makes sure your offerings maintain their relevance and run on trend, even ahead of it.
⁂ Competitiveness
The streaming market is crowded, so offering Dolby Vision can make your service stand out. You’ll attract quality-conscious viewers.
⁂ Content creator benefits
Filmmakers, TV producers, and other content creators can rest well knowing their hard work is being rewarded with superior visual fidelity. The picture on screen, just like the creators’ artistic vision, will look, feel, and be authentic, not compromised.
What’s Unified Streaming’s relationship with Dolby Vision?
Unified Streaming has integrated Dolby Vision format support to leverage the best of HDR technology for streaming services. Here’s how this integration benefits customers and end users.
⁂ Seamlessness
Unified Streaming ensures that the integration of Dolby Vision into your streaming platform is hassle-free. Our software delivers Dolby Vision content without complexity.
⁂ Scalability
Whether you’re a boutique streaming service or an enterprise provider, Unified Streaming’s solutions are scalable. Go ahead and offer Dolby Vision content without giving the scope of your operation a second thought. All of your viewers can bask in the format’s premium quality.
⁂ Compatibility
Unified Streaming’s software is compatible with quite a wide range of internet-connected devices, including TVs, smartphones, tablets, and PCs. With this reach, Dolby Vision content can boost viewer numbers, viewer satisfaction, and viewer engagement.
⁂ Security
Unified Streaming prioritizes security. Our solutions include support for advanced DRM (Digital Rights Management) and encryption technologies that protect expensive content on Dolby Vision.
Let’s go ’head and sum it up
Audiences keep gobbling up more content online.
Unified Streaming’s integration of Dolby Vision offers the possibility of unparalleled picture quality and a host of other audience-minded advantages.
Typically, when it comes to adopting and supporting the best codecs and formats, Unified Streaming gets in early. We got fully behind Dolby Vision to give audiences richer pictures.
So what does Unified Streaming with Dolby Vision mean? It means a stunning streaming experience awaits.
[DISCLAIMER: This blog does not necessarily represent the views of Dolby.]