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Amazon Video to Support HDR for 4K Ultra HD Streaming

By Rachel Cericola

Well that didn't take long. Back in June, Amazon announced plans to add High Dynamic Range (HDR) to its streaming service sometime this year. Now, the company is putting that plan into place.

The service has officially started streaming HDR to Prime members in the U.S. HDR allows video content to have more steps between the blackest black and the whitest white, which means you can capture high-contrast scenes, such as sunsets, starfields, street lamps and more, all with much greater realism. It also promises better colors and more distinct highlights.

If you thought limiting the perk to Prime members seemed exclusive, know that the image boost will only be available to Prime members with one of Samsung's SUHD TVs. It's available now through the smart TV's Amazon Video app.

It shouldn't be limited for too long, though. LG Electronics says that Amazon HDR streaming is expected to launch on this year's LG OLED 4K Ultra HD TVs in the coming weeks.

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The first season of "Mozart in the Jungle" in HDR is available on Samsung SUHD TVs now. Photo: Amazon Studios.

"OLED technology is perfectly suited for HDR content because it delivers perfect, absolute black---which only OLED TVs can achieve," said Tim Alessi, head of new product development for home entertainment at LG Electronics USA. "By starting from perfect black, OLED is able to produce the required light ranges at a lower peak brightness, resulting in an exceptional, and comfortable, HDR viewing experience from any viewing angle."

Amazon is launching HDR with the debut of Mozart in the Jungle, a new Amazon Original Series from writers Jason Schwartzman, Roman Coppola and Paul Weitz. The comedy, which stars Gael Garcia Bernal, Malcolm McDowell, Lola Kirke and Bernadette Peters, is the first to get the HDR treatment from Amazon, but it certainly won't be the last. Amazon says that more HDR-enhanced options will be coming to Prime users very soon.

"It's been a great year for Mozart in the Jungle," said Coppola. "Now, having the first season available for fans in an upgraded visual experience is exciting---the enhanced quality makes every scene look even better and we hope it's something that our viewers really enjoy."

Amazon first started streaming content to 4K TVs back in December 2014. The company offers 4K TV content for a premium price, but it's free to Amazon Prime subscribers. The HDR perk is another freebie for Prime members; it comes with the service's annual $99 fee.

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The JS9500 4K SUHD Curved Smart TV is available now. Photo: Samsung Electronics.

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