YouTube has become the first major video platform to support HDR livestreaming.
Creators need to use a compatible encoder, as well as a camera that supports HDR video with either the PQ or HLG colour standards.
YouTube Live HDR requires using HLS output. It supports HEVC hardware encoders with a bit depth of 10 bits, including those from Cobalt and Telestream, as well as the Mirillis Action! software encoder (version 4.12.2 or later) and compatible graphics cards such as NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10-series or later; AMD Radeon RX 5700 or later; Intel 10th Generation graphics or later
The HDR videos can be played back on the latest Android mobile devices or on HDR-capable smart TVs or streaming sticks.
By “bringing HDR to live streams, we’re unlocking the most spectacular image quality for live content yet,” YouTube said.
YouTube said it will “continue to iterate on this offering” to expand options for streaming HDR from additional encoders and mobile devices.
