The UHD Alliance (UHDA) has completed the ULTRA HD PREMIUM specifications for additional content delivery devices such as Streaming Media Players, Set-top boxes and Desktop PCs.

"With 4K UHD TV shipments increasing by 42% to 81 million in 2017, the one constant in a continually and rapidly changing content delivery environment is the consumer demand for a premium content experience regardless of the delivery platform," noted UHD Alliance Chairman, Michael Zink. "To that end, whether they are viewing content delivered by a disc player, cable or satellite box, or a streaming media player, they can look for the ULTRA HD PREMIUM logo to identify products that deliver a premium experience in 4K UHD with HDR."

Beyond the expanded ULTRA HD PREMIUM certification program, the Alliance also announced it is broadening its mission to include monitoring and maximizing interoperability between product categories. The organization has already conducted an initial review of interoperability issues raised by consumers to identify common trends with an eye toward providing consumer, retail and manufacturer education to help ensure consumers get the best UHD experience possible. Further, the group is augmenting its consumer education efforts to encompass the overall promotion of 4K UHD with HDR entertainment and the underlying technologies such as wide color spectrum and immersive audio.

As part of its broadened educational efforts, the Alliance will launch a new consumer facing website as well as a series of educational videos and a new retail/consumer brochure focusing on UHD technologies such as HDR, Wide Color Spectrum and other features.

For each of the new content delivery device categories to bear the ULTRA HD PREMIUM logo, the products must deliver the same performance requirements in 4K resolution, high dynamic range, color spectrum and color bit depth that were established for Ultra HD TV's and Ultra HD Blu-ray players. The specifications and testing requirements have been completed and the Alliance anticipates product testing and licensing will begin in early Fall of this year./p>