Sony Electronics' New Premium 4K HDR Ultra HD TVs Now Available

Exclusive Sony technologies, beautiful design, and HDR (High Dynamic Range) compatibility provide a superior television experience

TORONTO – March  21, 2016 – Sony Electronics announced the nationwide availability today for its newest lineup of 4K HDR Ultra HD televisions, the XBR-X850D and the XBR-X930D/XBR-X940D series, with exclusive Sony picture enhancing technologies. Powered by Sony's 4K Processor X1™ advanced image engine, these televisions deliver a better 4K and HDR viewing experience as well as near 4K HDR Ultra HD quality up-converted from HD sources. Dramatic brightness and black levels bring scenes to life with dark, inky blacks and stunning bright whites. The Slim Backlight Drive™, found in the stand-out X930D series, provides dramatic contrast with X-tended Dynamic Range™ PRO, while the TRILUMINOS™ Display delivers brilliant colour. An ultra-thin design creates an expansive, borderless picture and the optional flush mount system, available in the X930D and X940D series, enables the TV to be mounted closer to the wall than ever before. All of these TVs feature Google's Android TV™ operating system making your home smarter with access to a growing number of apps and support for IoT (Internet of Things) devices.

"This new lineup of 4K HDR Ultra HD televisions is proof of our continuing commitment to deliver a premium 4K HDR experience to our customers. With the development of 4K HDR shooting, editing, recording, storage, playback, transmission and display technologies, Sony understands 4K HDR like no other company," said Daniel Phillips, Director, Television and Home Video Marketing, Sony Canada. "Sony TVs provide superior picture quality no matter what content is being viewed, but these new televisions really shine when displaying 4K and HDR content."

These new TVs, as well as current shipping Sony televisions that are capable of fully taking advantage of HDR content, will be branded with Sony's "4K HDR Ultra HD" logo. This logo is used across Sony's 4K HDR compatible products and services. Logoed televisions meet the Consumer Technology Association's (CTA) HDR definition and support compelling next-generation visual experiences.

Dramatic Contrast and Brilliant Colour

All of Sony's new premium 4K HDR Ultra HD televisions support High Dynamic Range and reproduce dramatic contrast and rich, brilliant colour. With Sony's unique colour technology, the TRILUMINOS™ Display and X1 picture engine can provide a wider colour range and more realistic colour details, producing subtle shades and depth of colour to maximize the HDR experience.

The new X930D series features Sony's new Slim Backlight Drive technology which uses a unique grid array, local dimming and boosting backlighting structure to provide dramatic contrast. It does so by distributing the light source more precisely to each specific zone of the screen while maintaining a slim display. The X940D delivers similar dramatic contrast with a slim full-array direct backlit LED. Both the X930D and X940D feature X-tended Dynamic Range PRO to produce maximum contrast, boosting and dimming the backlight levels precisely for each zone of the screen with a unique backlighting algorithm resulting in darker, inky blacks and whiter whites, it up converts current content to near HDR quality.

Elegant Design

To support an enhanced viewing experience that goes beyond the screen, the X930D and X940D Sony 4K HDR Ultra HD models have an ultra-thin design that creates an expansive, borderless picture. With the optional wall mount, the television hangs like a picture, with only 3.7cm, or less than 1.5 inches, between the X930D screen and the wall. These televisions are elegant on a stand or cabinet, with a clean cable-free look that keeps set-top box or Blu-ray cables tidy and out of sight.

More than Just a Smart TV

These new 4K HDR Ultra HD TVs support Google's Android TV operating system, making it even easier to watch broadcast and cable TV, stream video, download entertainment, or use as a gaming device. Android TV brings the world's most popular mobile platform to Sony's TVs, providing a tailored and intuitive entertainment experience. TV lovers can watch hit shows and timeless movies from Google Play™, YouTube, Netflix, PlayStation™ Video and Crackle. Netflix was the first to roll out 4K content to the mainstream market and has made a commitment to providing HDR content to its subscribers as well. Users can also access a huge selection of games and additional apps from the Google Play store right on the TV. Additional popular apps available via Android TV include TED, PlayStation™ Now, Qello Concerts, Twitch, TuneIn, MLB.TV, PlutoTV and Vevo.

In addition, Android TV's Voice Search feature has been enhanced to support natural language voice actions and longer, more complex sentences. And with Google Cast™, users can cast their favourite entertainment apps from their Android or iOS device, Mac or Windows computer or Chromebook to the TV.

Canadian media companies are also committed to bringing 4K live and streaming content to their customers. In addition to TV shows and movies, Rogers customers can get in on the action with more than 100 live sporting events in 4K including every 2016 Toronto Blue Jays home game, plus marquee NHL and NBA match-ups. Bell customers can experience 4K with a slate of broadcasts featuring the Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators through TSN. Additional 4K broadcasts, 4K on-demand movies and original 4K content such as Cirque de Soleil’s “TORUK Takes Flight” on Fibe TV1 and programming from the Discovery Channel will be available soon. 

Beyond streaming content, Sony's Android TV platform allows Home Automation control directly from the TV's user interface using a Logitech Harmony® Hub. More than 270,000 home entertainment products and IoT (internet of things) devices, such as lights, shades and thermostats can be controlled and automated at the push of a button on the TV's remote.

Pricing and availability

The X850D and X930D 4K HDR Ultra HD TVs are now available at www.sony.ca and other authorized dealers nationwide. The X940D 4K HDR Ultra HD TV will be available in April.

4K HDR Ultra HD TV Models and Prices

• XBR-55X850D, 55" class (54.6" diagonal), $1,999.99 CAD
• XBR-65X850D, 65" class (64.5" diagonal), $3,599.99 CAD
• XBR-75X850D, 75" class (74.5" diagonal), $5,799.99 CAD
• XBR-85X850D, 85" class (84.6" diagonal), $11,499.99 CAD
• XBR-55X930D, 55" class (54.6" diagonal), $3,299.99 CAD
• XBR-65X930D, 65" class (64.5" diagonal), $4,999.99 CAD
• XBR-75X940D, 75" class (74.5" diagonal), $8,599.99 CAD

Also available later this spring will be the 32W600D, 40W650D, and 48W650D series of 32" to 48" class HD TV's, providing a world of movies, TV and apps in beautiful HD with the clarity and sharpness of X-Reality PRO. Prices are as follows: 48W650D, $849.99 CAD; 40W650D, $699.99 CAD; and 32W600D, $429.99 CAD.

4K HDR Ultra HD TV Highlights

XBR-X930D Series 4K HDR TV (55" and 65" Class models) and XBR-X940D (75" Class model) 

• 4K HDR compatibility to receive and process the new video standard signal with higher brightness, higher contrast and more vibrant colours.
• X-tended Dynamic Range PRO to produce ideal contrast, with three times the brightness range of a conventional LED-backlit TV.
• New Slim Backlight Drive technology, which uses a unique grid array local dimming and boosting backlighting structure to distribute the backlight source more precisely to each specific zone of the screen while maintaining a slim display. (X930D only, the X940D uses a slim full-array direct backlit LED.)
• More colours, depth and realism with TRILUMINOS™ Display, further enhanced for colour accuracy.
• Sony's 4K Processor X1™ advanced image engine to improve colour accuracy, contrast and clarity of HD, 4K and 4K HDR video.
• 4K X-Reality PRO brings stunning detail and optimized 4K upscaling using a unique algorithm from a reality creation database for TV broadcasting, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Internet video and digital still photos.
• Supports Google's Android TV operating system, making it easy to stream video, function as a gaming device and provide enhanced features. Also allows Home Automation control directly from the TV's UI in combination with a Logitech Harmony® Hub.
• An ultra-thin design that creates an expansive, borderless picture. When hung against a wall with the optional mount, the television is so close, and the bezel is so thin, that it appears to hang like a picture.

XBR-X850D Series (55", 65", 75" and 85" Class models)

• 4K HDR compatibility to receive and process the new video standard signal with higher brightness, higher contrast and more vibrant colours.
• More colours, depth and realism with TRILUMINOS™ Display, further enhanced for colour accuracy.
• Sony's 4K Processor X1™ advanced image engine to improve colour accuracy, contrast and clarity of HD, 4K and 4K HDR video.
• Dynamic Contrast Enhancer optimizes contrast with improved gradation, better reproduction of dark areas, and increased contrast control with reduced noise levels.
• 4K X-Reality PRO brings stunning detail and optimized 4K upscaling using a unique algorithm from a reality creation database for TV broadcasting, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Internet video and digital still photos.
• Supports Google's Android TV operating system, making it easy to stream video, function as a gaming device and provide enhanced features. Also allows Home Automation control directly from the TV's UI in combination with a Logitech Harmony® Hub.
• An ultra-thin design that creates an expansive, borderless picture.

Please visit here for Sony Canada press releases and follow #Sony4K on Twitter for the latest Sony 4K HDR news.

For all press enquiries please contact:

Ved Khan
Public Relations Specialist
Sony of Canada Ltd.
ved_khan@sony.ca
416-495-3703

Kristen Schaffrath (on behalf of Sony of Canada Ltd.)
NATIONAL Public Relations
kschaffrath@national.ca
416-848-1704

About Sony of Canada Ltd.

Sony of Canada is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of Tokyo, Japan, one of the most comprehensive entertainment company in the world, with a portfolio that encompasses music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming and financial services. Through headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Sony of Canada is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets.

By focusing on engineering and a passion to inspire, Sony is creating world-leading products that innovate and inspire generations, such as the iconic PlayStation, the award-winning Alpha Interchangeable Lens Cameras and revolutionary high-resolution audio products. Sony is also a leading manufacturer of end-to-end solutions from 4K professional broadcast and A/V equipment to the marketing leading 4K Ultra HD TVs.

For more information, visit www.sony.ca.

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