Sling TV is gearing up to revolutionize live sports broadcasting in 2024, announcing that it will begin offering its users live 4K content. Starting with the July 16 event on Fox Sports, Sling TV subscribers will be able to enjoy their favorite sports in glorious UHD. Although the 4K experience will initially be limited to “certain markets,” Sling promises that this is just the beginning of a more high-resolution future.
Sling’s senior vice president of product and operations, Seth Van Sickel, said, “Get ready to see your favorite sports like never before.” The company’s competitors, such as Fubo TV and YouTube TV, have been offering 4K streams on select sporting events since 2019 and 2016, respectively.
However, it’s important to note that most sporting events are not currently streamed in 4K. Many events that are advertised as 4K are actually upscaled 1080p streams. The difficulty in broadcasting live sports in 4K lies in the technical requirements, including the need for a large number of cameras to adequately cover the event. 4K cameras are also significantly more expensive than HD cameras.
In addition, there are several bottlenecks to overcome in order to broadcast in 4K. For example, 4K cameras require more extensive cabling, increasing the number of cameras and video console inputs required. The processing and compression of the stream also demands powerful computing resources, which must be kept cool. Finally, the broadcaster must ensure that its distribution partners can handle the 4K feed.
Sling plans to continue experimenting with 4K streaming in the coming months, with college and pro football on Fox Sports and the 2024 Paris Olympics on NBC. If successful, this could pave the way for 4K sports streaming to become the norm.
