TV size isn’t everything; If you want the best picture, you need a high-resolution set, preferably something in UHD or 4K (yes, there’s a difference). Of course, size and resolution don’t mean much if your provider’s signal isn’t capable of giving you the best fidelity suited to your device. Sports fans missed something, but not anymore.
Earlier this week, ESPN announced that it has begun rolling out 4K HDR picture quality for the ESPN and ESPN2 services. According to the announcement, ESPN’s 4K HDR coverage will include “all ESPN productions” of Monday Night Football, NBA and NHL, as well as “select live events from college football and US Open tennis” and marquee live events like Super Bowl LXI. For some reason, however, the release doesn’t mention coverage of other sports, including MLB.
ESPN’s 4K upgrade is the result of a new architecture designed by Evertz and VUE. This new pipeline is designed to be “IP-based and endpoint-agnostic,” meaning it can potentially be applied to virtually any program, as well as any device capable of producing 4K video.
What you need to watch ESPN in 4K
Thanks to the magic of modern technology, you won’t need to change any settings to watch ESPN and ESPN 2 in 4K: all you need is the ESPN service through the ESPN app or a paid digital streaming service like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. The affected programs will automatically do all the picture quality upgrade work and you will know that you are getting the upgraded service, as indicated by the on-screen badge, displaying either “4K HDR” on your TV or “HDR” on your mobile device. That being said, you’ll still want to check your device settings to make sure you’re getting the best sound possible for watching sports.
As this is a feature rollout, not all platforms will be upgraded at the same time. If you have the ESPN app on an iOS or tvOS device, there’s a good chance you can already watch sports in 4K. According to the announcement, ESPN will follow (assuming it hasn’t already) with 4K streaming on other TV platforms and Disney+ for ESPN Unlimited subscribers. Eventually, even people who use digital pay TV (which includes YouTube TV) and cable networks, as well as those who like to watch the NFL in their living rooms and on their mobile devices, will gain 4K sports compatibility.
