I am personally not into 4K yet, but I heard the CBC broadcast mention that the Montreal-Toronto game was the first one being broadcast on Rogers Cable in Canada in 4K. The article below mentions a Raptors game in 4K on Bell a couple of days ago. I haven't found any information about anything similar in the USA for events, other than the streaming services or for streaming movies, like Directv. Does anyone know if any events are live in 4K in the USA yet on any provider? I would assume that the Olympics would be an upcoming event of interest for potential 4K broadcasters.
If this has been posted/or discussed somewhere else, I do apologize for the out of place thread, but I didn't find anything searching.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/4k-tv-faq-1.3413422
I was very sad watching this game on Dish NHL Network knowing I was watching it in 1080x1440 when those North of me had it in 4k
. Since when does Canada get new tech before us?
No live 4k in the USA yet via any provider. DirecTV appears to be the first that will offer this, likely around April when reverse Band LNBs are avail to all.
As far as I know, they are the only TV provider to have
substantiated rumors of actually offering
live 4k (NOT 4k on demand).
The Olympics will likely be recorded in 4k (almost every big live event is now for future considerations, think NFL Films), and possibly broadcast in other countries in 4k, but
very unlikely the US. NBC owns the rights to these events, and having a large OTA infrastructure, all of their affiliates would be limited to 1080i. Affiliate relationships are a huge wrench in the Mix of 4k/UHD from the likes of NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox because they can't broadcast 4k through their affiliates. The networks could offer a 4k channel through cable/sat, but then you no longer have you local stations and ad revenue and you would basically be competing directly with your contracted affiliates which almost surely would end up in a legal fight, or even is addressed in existing contracts. If "everyone" is watching the Superbowl (CBS) or Olympics (NBC) on the "special national cable/sat-only 4k channel", why would I want to buy advertising time with my local station? Affiliates would revolt.
If NBC gets a 4k channel up and running, I could see B level, or live events that wouldn't broadcast live on the "big" NBC being broadcast on the "special 4k cable station" as a possibility. That said, I haven't heard any rumors of NBC 4k, but i'm sure NBCUniversal is working on it, and likely recording in 4k as we speak. Keep in mind, they have Comcast to consider. Why would Comcast let NBCUniversal launch 4k when Comcast Cable can't yet deliver it? This would drive customers to DirecTV, not good business for Comcast Coporate.
In good news, any "cable only" networks (ESPN
) could "flip the switch" at anytime on 4k as long as they reach carriage agreements with a cable/sat carrier. (ESPN has/will have the infrastructure to do so shortly).
I thought I heard awhile back that the Super Bowl would be in 4k, although that was a while ago and I haven't seen it mentioned of late.
Again, most all live events are recorded/filmed in 4k, but NOTHING in the USA is broadcast live cable/sat 4k (I put these qualifiers because live 4k web-streams are possible). CBS does not have an existing infrastructure to get this Superbowl feed out because again of the OTA/affiliate issue. It's feasible they could do this via the internet, but extremely unlikely. I also recall CBS/Viacom being the least excited about 4k...
Checkout
THIS article about the tech that will be at Levi stadium for the game. But us viewers will only see the 1080i down res of this content. Maybe we'll get the UHD Blu-ray of the Superbowl later in the year.
There are rumored 4K channels in the works.
Out of respect for Scott I won't say anything else. I can't remember if Scott posted here or the pub.
Sorry
ESPN 4k is basically a certainty. They currently don't have aren't contracted for a Superbowl until at least
2024. I
guarantee you that by Q4 this year ALL the big NCAAF/NCAAB/MLB/NBA & MNF games that ESPN carries will be in 4k. (On DirecTV)
