This popular streaming service will be the first to get Dolby Vision 2 support – and it's a big deal

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Peacock is adding Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Atmos to more live sports.
• NBA and MLB broadcasts are expanding in Dolby Atmos on Peacock.
• Dolby AC-4 aims to improve dialogue clarity with less bandwidth.

Peacock is about to get brighter and clearer. At CES 2026 last week, Dolby Laboratories and NBCUniversal announced that Peacock would be the first streaming service to integrate Dolby’s full suite of advanced picture and sound technology. 

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That means streaming live sports and events on Peacock will unlock Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos over the coming year, and other content will be upgraded to Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby AC-4, Dolby’s high-quality audio codec.

Dolby Atmos

According to a press release, the partnership aims to address common viewer complaints, including picture quality that is too dark and dialogue that is too difficult to hear, which often requires the use of subtitles. Certain movies and TV shows available on Peacock are already available in Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, and the platform was the first to stream Sunday Night Football in Atmos.

See at Peacock

Dolby Vision 2

The venture also incorporates NBA and MLB live broadcasts into Dolby Atmos content and upgrades Dolby Vision to Dolby Vision 2. With Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Atmos rolling out to more of Peacock’s live sports coverage this year, viewers with compatible subscriptions, TVs, and speakers should notice brighter, more vivid colors during live sports and immersive, dynamic sound.

Also: Dolby Vision 2 has arrived, but you don’t have to replace your TV for a new one yet

Dolby AC-4

Peacock’s announcement highlights the platform’s adoption of Dolby AC-4, Dolby’s most advanced audio codec that can deliver a spatial audio experience with less bandwidth. Dolby Vision 2 is the company’s latest advancement to picture quality, promising upgrades to brightness, contrast, saturation, motion control, and new picture enhancements.

“Peacock is raising the bar for what streaming entertainment can be with Dolby,” said John Couling, senior vice president of entertainment at Dolby Laboratories. “

“This partnership reflects our vision to push the boundaries of live sports and entertainment, delivering experiences that truly stand apart. With Dolby, Peacock stands as the premier destination for viewers who expect nothing less than exceptional entertainment at home,” Couling added.