Hybrid Log Gamma HDR, or HLG HDR, is a high dynamic range imagery standard developed by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK). While it can be seen as a competitor to other HDR standards such as HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, it is designed more for broadcast television than streaming or locally produced media.
HDR Standards Explained – HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
HLG is an HDR standard designed to both add HDR compatibility to broadcast TV signals while maintaining a similar simplicity for the broadcast data itself, without adding significant additional bandwidth requirements. It allows broadcasters to transmit a signal with the wide dynamic range supported by HDR and SDR televisions, greatly reducing the cost and complexity of the broadcast signal.
HLG is royalty-free, unlike more specific standards like Dolby Vision. Also, unlike other HDR standards, no metadata is used to tell the TV how to display HDR content.
If you plan on watching broadcast TV on your new TV, it’s a good idea to get one with HLG support, as it’s gradually becoming more popular among broadcasters. For example, Sky UK announced in 2020 that its Sky Q satellite TV box would support HLG content in the future.
