After 256 common season video games and 10 NFL playoff matches all of it comes all the way down to Buccaneers vs Chiefs at 6.30pm ET on Sunday. We have already defined how to watch the Super Bowl without cable, however you may additionally be questioning if you happen to can watch the Tremendous Bowl in 4K? Or fairly, Tom Brady vs Patrick Mahomes in 4K. The reply would possibly shock you.
Three principal networks rotate Tremendous Bowl protection every season. Final 12 months, Fox known as the play and streamed Tremendous Bowl LIV in sharp 4K decision, marking a primary for the historical past of the occasion. This 12 months, CBS is doing the honors and can supply a free Super Bowl live stream through its CBS Sports activities web site and app.
However CBS has now confirmed it will not make this Sunday’s Tremendous Bowl LV out there in both 4K UHD or HDR. That is disappointing information, particularly for individuals who had their eye on one of many best Super Bowl 2021 TV deals. CBS says the downgrade is because of “manufacturing limitations brought on by the covid-19 pandemic”.
Pissed off? We really feel you. On a brighter notice CBS will air the Tremendous Bowl in HD (Full HD 1080p, to be exact). The corporate says it plans to “concentrate on making certain that streams are dependable and low-latency” for this 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl, in addition to showcasing “dramatically new digital camera angles”.
CBS has no expertise broadcasting NFL video games in 4K UHD, not to mention the finale of the American soccer season. So, maybe this could come as no shock. Even Fox, which was reliably screening Thursday Evening Soccer in 4K for many of final season, needed to cease resulting from problems brought on by the pandemic.
As you possibly can think about, broadcasting a worldwide occasion such because the Tremendous Bowl isn’t any picnic. Because the VP of video platforms at Fox put it, getting ready one of the crucial streamed occasions on this planet requires ‘year-long engineering work’.
So, Tremendous Bowl 2021 may not be probably the most technically superior Tremendous Bowl however fingers crossed can be glitch-free. And having struggled although sufficient glitches in 2020, the truth that it is on in any respect could possibly be seen as a victory.
Ought to I nonetheless purchase a 4K TV for Tremendous Bowl 2021?
So, must you pull the tigger on that new 4K TV if you cannot watch Tremendous Bowl 2021 in 4K HDR?
We had our doubts however in lots of respects the Tremendous Bowl stays an incredible excuse to purchase a brand new 4K TV – and never solely as a result of retailers are providing crazy-low costs on massive screens for the massive sport (see: 70-inch on a 4K HDR LED TV for $448 at Walmart).
For one factor, most 4K TVs have the potential to upscale a HD video feed to 4K. In truth, Fox makes use of the identical trick – they produce video games in 1080p HDR after which upscale them to 4K for house supply. So although you possibly can’t watch Tremendous Bowl 2021 in 4K HDR, the most recent 4K TVs can improve the image to ‘close to 4K’ high quality which is kind of what we had final 12 months anyway.
What’s extra, Fox goals to renew 4K UHD broadcasts subsequent season. They is probably not in native 4K, however based mostly on the NFL’s earlier 4K broadcasts, they’re going to look beautiful. The feeds embrace HDR (Excessive Dynamic Vary) so the colours and textures ought to look superior on a high tier 4K HDR TV from Sony, Samsung, LG or the like.
Wanting additional forward, next-generation digital TV know-how ATSC 3.0 is ready to revolutionize how sports activities equivalent to NFL, MLB and NBA are broadcast. ATSC 3.zero allows as much as 4K high quality over the air, together with immersive Dolby Atmos 3D sound.
Add to that the burden of 4K content material out there to stream via companies equivalent to Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV and there are many causes to tug the set off on a brand new 4K TV. They’re extra inexpensive than ever earlier than, too, going by this 12 months’s finest Super Bowl 2021 TV deals.
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