Sony to deliver IMAX to Bravia TV sets
September 5, 2019
By Chris Forrester
Sony Europe has struck a partnership with Rakuten TV to launch IMAX Enhanced film content in Europe first on its high-end BRAVIA televisions.
The IMAX Enhanced programme, developed by IMAX and DTS, is a certification and licensing programme that combines the highest-end consumer electronics products with IMAX digitally remastered 4K HDR content and DTS audio technologies to offer consumers a new level of immersive sight and sound experiences for the home. To qualify and carry the IMAX Enhanced logo, Sony’s TVs have met a carefully prescribed set of performance requirements, set by IMAX, DTS engineers and Hollywood’s leading technical specialists, to bring the highest-quality, sharpest 4K HDR images and powerful, immersive sound to the home.
“We are thrilled to support our collaborators to bring The IMAX Experience® into the home with this new and exciting format,” said Pete Wood, SVP/Digital Sales, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. “IMAX Enhanced content continues to deliver on our promise to provide consumers with the best at home viewing experience.”
IMAX Enhanced content on Sony BRAVIA TVs will be available to own in Europe via Rakuten TV streaming service from early September, in UK, Spain, Germany, France and Italy at launch, and more countries in the future.
Sony models to receive IMAX Enhanced certification are the MASTER Series ZG9 8K HDR Full Array LED and AG9 4K HDR OLED sets, as well as the XG95 Series 4K HDR Full Array LED TV. All of the IMAX Enhanced Sony TVs have been designed to provide premium picture quality, colour, contrast, and clarity approaching that of a professional-grade monitor.
The IMAX Enhanced programme uses the newest, proprietary post-production process developed by IMAX to digitally re-master content to produce more vibrant colours, greater contrast and sharper clarity. The truly singular home entertainment experience is further enriched with the IMAX signature sound mix delivered to the home exclusively by DTS with immersive, powerful sound featuring deep bass and dynamic range.
“We are excited to bring IMAX Enhanced content to Europe for the first time through our collaboration with Sony and Rakuten TV”, said Francisco Navarro-Sertich, SVP/Strategy at IMAX Corporation. “Today’s announcement continues our efforts to usher in a new level of quality in home entertainment by pairing IMAX digitally re-mastered 4K HDR content with IMAX Enhanced Sony BRAVIA TVs so that consumers can experience their favourite content with breath-taking images and immersive sound as the filmmakers intended for the home.”
IMAX Enhanced content will be available on select BRAVIA TVs with a great selection of Sony Pictures Entertainment worldwide box office hits such as Venom, Spider-Man Homecoming, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Spider-Man: Far From Home (which includes 45 minutes of IMAX’s exclusive expanded aspect ratio). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a studio collaborator of the IMAX Enhanced programme.