Blue Planet 2 is coming to BBC iPlayer in 4K and HDR

An ultra high-definition version of the nature show will be free to view
Bright idea: the BBC is presenting Blue Planet II in 4K and HDR with brighter picture and better quality on iPlayer
BBC
Ben Travis5 December 2017

Blue Planet II is set to become the first BBC series to be released in 4K on iPlayer.

The stunning nature documentary series is getting an ultra high-definition upgrade with HDR (high dynamic range) picture that viewers will be able to stream online.

The visual improvements include a higher colour gamut, meaning more vibrant hues, and a maximum streaming resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels.

Other intermediary resolutions between standard 1080p HD and full 4K will also be available.

Blue Planet II - In pictures

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The UHD version of Blue Planet II will be made available in full once the final episode of the series has aired on Sunday, December 10.

“We want to give people the best possible experience of BBC TV in iPlayer, so picture quality's a really important aspect of that,” Dan Taylor-Watt, Head of BBC iPlayer, told the Evening Standard.

“The BBC is world class in natural history, and to be able to bring it to people's homes in the best quality is brilliant.”

For viewers to access the UHD version of Blue Planet II, they will need a compatible TV and super-fast fibre broadband.

When selecting an episode of Blue Planet II through iPlayer, those will eligible devices will be offered the UHD version to stream instead.

Blue Planet II in UHD will be free to stream for 30 days, including over the festive period – so make sure to set aside a few hours to watch the eye-popping David Attenborough series in even better quality.

The series is also being released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray on January 15.

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