Now that TVs offering HDR (High Dynamic Range) and A/V receivers featuring support for object-based surround sound — also known as 3D surround sound — are making their way into consumers’ homes, there is a need for content that actually takes advantage of these technologies. Dolby Atmos sound is beginning to pick up steam already, but HDR content is still fairly limited.
On Thursday, Lionsgate announced that it had partnered with Dolby Laboratories to bring its films into viewer’s homes featuring both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. While six other studios have already signed on to offer Dolby Atmos, Lionsgate is the fifth studio to offer Dolby Vision.
“We remain committed to being at the forefront of expanding and enriching the home entertainment experience for our audiences by incorporating state-of-the-art technologies,” Lionsgate president Ron Schwartz said in a statement. “We’re proud to partner with our friends at Dolby to master titles in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, giving consumers the opportunity to experience their favorite Lionsgate movies in an entirely new way.”
Dolby Vision not only offers a wider range of colors than standard HD or 4K displays, but is capable of displaying brighter colors as well. Dolby Atmos uses upward-firing speakers to add height information to a standard surround sound setup, making for a generally more immersive experience. Neither of these are the only options for their respective technologies — HDR10 is another popular HDR standard, while DTS:X object-based surround will be supported in many existing A/V receivers via firmware updates this summer.
Lionsgate plans to offer titles featuring both technologies “in the coming months,” but so far no specific titles have been announced. The studio is perhaps best known as the home of The Hunger Games, Twilight, and Divergent franchises, though what films will be released first likely has more to do with how they were filmed than popularity.
