Virgin Media claims UK broadcast HDR first
May 28, 2019
Virgin Media has become the first UK TV platform to broadcast an event in 4K Ultra HD (UHD) with High Dynamic Range (HDR) with its retransmission of Eurosport’s coverage of the Roland-Garros tennis tournament which began Sunday 26th May.
In a UK first, Virgin Media is utilising Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) technology to broadcast all matches that feature on the renovated Phillipe Chatrier court in 4K UHD with HDR on its V6 set top box.
It is delivering the service using standard broadcast technology which will require the viewer to press the red button on any of the Eurosport channels to view the action in the highest picture quality available.
The announcement builds on Virgin Media’s partnership with Eurosport which, in the summer of 2018 enabled tennis fans to watch coverage of Roland Garros in 4K UHD for the first time.
To view the action in 4K UHD or HDR, customers with a V6 box will need to press the red button on their remote on either Eurosport 1HD (channel 521), Eurosport 2HD (channel 522) or Virgin TV Ultra HD (channel 205 and 999). Any Virgin Media customer wanting to watch in 4K HDR will need to have an HLG-compatible TV. Standard 4K UHD viewing is available as well as HD.
Eurosport’s live 4K HDR coverage will be available on each day of the two-week long tournament on all matches that appear on Phillipe Chatrier court.
“We are upping our game once more this summer by broadcasting one of the most prestigious tennis competitions in the highest picture quality currently available,” noted David Bouchier, Chief Digital Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media. “Our customers will be able to get even closer to the action with HDR technology on our V6 box bringing the action right into the homes of our customers.”