A computer-implemented method includes accessing a high dynamic range (HDR) media content item. Statistical analysis is performed to determine statistical information associated with the HDR media content item at each incremental portion of the HDR media content item. Metadata for each incremental portion of the HDR media content item is generated. A standard dynamic range (SDR) version of the content is derived using the HDR metadata. The metadata and an SDR version of the HDR media content item is transmitted to a storage service. The metadata and the SDR version are caused to be received at a display device. The SDR version is converted to HDR with a dynamic range bounded based on the metadata.