The UHD Alliance (UHDA) announces new UHD specifications at CES 2016-- Ultra HD Premium, a set of performance metrics covering resolution, HDR, peak luminance, black levels and wide colour gamut.

As the alliance puts it, "the specs need to go beyond resolution and address enhancements like HDR, expanded color and ultimately even immersive audio... The criteria established by this broad cross section of the Ultra HD ecosystem enables the delivery of a revolutionary in-home experience."

What do the actual specifications involve? UHD core resolution remains unchanged (3840x2160), and the UHDA details specifications including 10-bit colour depth, wide colour gamut, reproduction of over 90% of P3 colours, HDR, and peak brightness and black levels reaching either more than 1000 nits peak brightness and less than 0.05 nits black levels or over 540 nits peak brightness and less than 0.0005 nits black level.

Recommended UHDA display specifications suggest 100% P3 colour reproduction, 1000 nits peak brightness, 0.03 nits black levels and next-generation audio support. Product testing and certification takes place at independent centres, and TVs meeting the minimums get a shiny new UHD Premium logo.

The UHDA lists a good number of industry heavyweights as members (if with notable exceptions such as Vizio). Both Samsung and LG already announced their products meet, if not exceed, UHD Premium specifications.

Go UHD Alliance Defines Premium Home Entertainment Experience