There's potential for confusion when you shop for ultra-high-definition TVs that support some of the latest enhancements, including high dynamic range (HDR) and wider color gamuts. One reason is that we expect to see some dramatic differences in HDR performance among sets and brands.

So how do you know you're buying a TV that can deliver top-level performance?

At CES this evening, the UHD Alliance, an industry group, tackled the issue with a new "Ultra HD Premium" logo and certification program that'll let you know you're getting a TV that's capable of a high level of performance.

But the program isn't limited to just TVs; it sets minimum specifications and requirements for other 4K, or ultra-high-def, devices, such as Ultra HD Blu-ray players, as well as 4K content and services.

To earn the Ultra HD Premium logo, products and services have to go through a certification process to prove they can meet or exceed requirements for resolution, HDR, peak brightness, black levels and wide color gamut, among others. (HDR is the term used to describe a wider range between the whitest whites and blackest blacks in an image, so contrast is significantly improved. A wider color gamut shows more colors.)

There are also recommendations for immersive audio and other features. Independent centers around the world will handle testing and certification.

For UHD TVs, UHD Blu-ray players and other devices to receive certification, they have to support a lot of things consumers will never actually have to understand, among them 3840x2160 resolution, a wider color gamut (at least 90 percent of the P3 digital cinema color space) and 10-bit colors. They also have to support the SMPTE standard for HDR, also called HDR 10, but may additionally support other HDR technologies, such as Dolby Vision.

As we mentioned in an earlier blog, brightness proved a sticking point during the development of the program, since OLED TVs don't get as bright as LCD sets but are capable of much deeper blacks. The UHD Alliance addressed this issue by allowing two different requirements for peak brightness levels, depending on black level of the set.

At CES this week, we expect to hear more about which brands and models will be able to meet these new UHD specifications and earn the Ultra HD Premium logo. We believe that OLED TVs will meet the criteria, but we're wondering if LCD TVs will need full-array LED backlights with local dimming to earn the mark.