NEW YORK—Fox Sports has announced it will be broadcasting all of its playoff games and Superbowl LVII in 4K, making it the first network to air all of its playoff games and the Super Bowl in 4K. 

The games will actually be shot in High Dynamic Range (HDR) at 1080p and upscaled for broadcast in 4K. 

Fox also said that it is the first network in 40 years to carry two Wild Card Round Games, Two NFC Divisional Round Games, the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl.

Fox began its 4K broadcasts with the Super Wild Card Weekend opener between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, Jan. 14 and continued on Jan. 15 with the Vikings versus the Giants. 

Fox NFL Playoff games and the Super Bowl will be available in 4K through several Fox Sports distributors, including Altice Optimum, Comcast Xfinity, Cox Contour TV, DirecTV, Dish, FuboTV, Verizon FIOS and YouTube TV.

In addition to television availability, broadcasts of all Fox NFL postseason games can be streamed digitally on the Fox Sports app and NFL digital properties.

In accordance with the league’s scheduling policy, this year’s Fox NFL Playoffs schedule is subject to change, the network said. 

NEW YORK—Starting with the Nov. 20 face off between Qatar and Ecuador, FuboTV will stream select FIFA World Cup games from host country Qatar in 4K/HDR, the network announced today.

All 64 matches will originate from Fox Sports and Telemundo, official U.S. broadcasters of the games, which conclude with the championship game on Dec. 18. The English language matches, including the final, will be available in 4K/HDR to subscribers of Fubotv's Ultimate and Elite subscription tiers. Fubo was the first virtual MVPD (vMVPD) to stream in 4K during the Russia 2018 tournament; it’s also carried other sporting events including FS1 and the 2022 Winter Olympics in 4K/HDR. 

(Also read: Fox Sports Ready for 4K/HDR FIFA World Cup)

“With an internally-built tech stack optimized for live sports viewership, Fubo has historically innovated ahead of its vMVPD competitors, which began introducing 4K streams just this year,” the company said in its announcement. 

FuboTV—which is available in the U.S., Canada and Spain, has just under 1 million subscribers in North America. For a full schedule of matches streaming in 4K go here.

DOHA, QATAR—Imagine such a massive sporting event: Ten venues, including eight stadiums, all within a 45-minute radius. Sixty-four matches in just less than a month, plus a fan fest. And the potential for an audience of 5 billion viewers worldwide, according to the International Federation of Association Football.

That can only be the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

Fox Sports, the U.S. broadcaster for the event, will shoot and broadcast all matches in native 4K HDR, with studio programming to be upscaled from 1080p HDR to 4K HDR, according to Kevin Callahan, vice president of field operations for the network. Domestic coverage begins Sunday, Nov. 20 and wraps up with the final, Dec. 18 at Lusail Stadium. 

Fox Sports anticipates huge audiences will be focused on their screens of choice across Fox, FS1 and the Fox Sports app. That means Kevin Callahan, vice president of field operations for  Fox Sports, and the 150-plus-member crew will be working within a huge production to meet bigger expectations.

Two Nerve Centers
In early October, Callahan and company were getting down to the nitty-gritty of the enormous undertaking, which started with building two nerve centers: The Fox transmission facility at the Qatar National Convention Centre, the home of the International Broadcast Center. The facility will accommodate more than 75 broadcasters.

“All of the broadcasters will have a presence there and their feeds will be shared between the countries,” Callahan said. “That means we’ll all get 40 feeds from every match,” he said, noting the Fox equipment roster that includes an EVS router, two Ross switchers, EVS servers, Grass Valley Alchemists for image processing, Calrec audio consoles and a Riedel intercom system. “There is also a video sharing platform that will allow all of the broadcasters to tell the bigger story, rather than just their own,” Callahan added.

Fox’s other nerve center will be the Corniche Studio, its unilateral position. At press time, Callahan and Vice President of Studio Remote Operations Rod Conti were working with FIFA’s creative services team to acquire permission from the Qataris to build its broadcast center along the seven-meter Doha Bay waterfront promenade (aka the “Corniche”). It will include four sets for the various dayparts, including an all-LED demo field like that used during the network’s NFL coverage.

The stage is being constructed by Filmworks with the skeleton made of Mod Truss, a self-ballasting metal that will be incorporated due to the potential for high winds along the shoreline. Fox is also working with Creative Technologies to install 20 LED screens—six facing the crowd, seven Penta Center interior screens, one floor screen, four west stage header screens and two interior screens—for production purposes, as well as for messaging the fervent fans who queue up along the Corniche.

The purpose-built production facility will span 45x10 meters within two stories. It will house 18 Grass Valley LDX 150 cameras with Canon (20x5 and 14x4.3) lenses,  GVG switcher, GVG Alchemist frame rate converters, an EVS video router, EVS replay servers and Calrec audio consoles. The mic roster includes 24 Sanken COS 11-Ds wireless mics via the Shure Axient.

Remote Savings
But one production element that won’t be seen in Doha is graphics equipment or artists. “They will remain at Fox headquarters in Los Angeles,” said Callahan, which is a change in general production at the network from the 2018 World Cup that was inspired by the pandemic.

Fox Sports is using Vizrt products extensively for its World Cup 2022 broadcasts, including multiple instances of Viz Engine and Viz Trio. The Fox team chose Viz Engine to help remove some of the complexity of its live graphics production and distribution, while Viz Trio, an advanced playout control application, allows Fox operators to control data-driven, real-time graphics.

Additionally, the network will use a complete NDI cloud workflow to help distribute live digital media from existing software applications, computing devices and networks from L.A. to Qatar. Using NDI is helping Fox avoid the cost of purchasing additional hardware and travelling with additional production personnel to Qatar.

Callahan said the 2022 broadcast will mark the first time a U.S. English language broadcaster has had an in-stadium presence at all eight match venues. “Our match crews are always travelling,” he said, “but in this case, no one will need to get on a plane.”

Within those venues, Host Broadcast Services will employ at least 40 cameras for each match. That means Fox will concentrate on side positions, using the Sony PXW-FX9s and VENICE 2s, using between two to six for each match. In addition, each venue will have its own Riedel intercom system.

In addition, the Fan Fest will be held in Al Bidda Park, where Fox will have a full live set on a 5x5-meter platform. Connections between all 10 venues and the IBC will require one gigabit of fiber “or more than 20 miles. The facilities are all IP,” Callahan said. Diversified Systems is building out 2110 IP-based flypacks for the spectacle and eight 100-GigE services will be used to transmit the signals back to the U.S.

Climatic Challenges
Of course, building such a massive setup would be tough in any weather, but try doing it in a desert where the daily high temperature normally reaches the mid-90s and sometimes triple digits—and it’s not a dry heat, either. That fact has required a careful approach by the Fox crew. 

“While we’re working outside at the Corniche, we’re on the night shift to ensure that we’re working safe,” said Callahan. “When the building is complete, we’ll add more than 80 tons of air conditioning equipment. That’s more than a large building in the U.S. would require.”

Then consider the venues. “Seven are new, save Khalifa International Stadium, and all will be repurposed after the World Cup,” Callahan said. “The Qataris have cooling technology that uses air pressure to push hot air out of each stadium,” he said, “to the point that you need a light jacket indoors when it’s sweltering outside.”

So, what’s the main difference between the World Cup and other major sporting events?

“It’s that we’re not the only broadcaster,” Callahan said, “so it’s not like the Super Bowl, where we have more influence. Here, we’re just one of many broadcasters from around the world, so we have to apply to FIFA for what we need and compete with the other broadcasters to get it.”

So for now, the sleeves are still rolled up and it’s back to work, because as the FIFA World Cup gets rolling, downtime is nil. “Another difference here is that we’re broadcasting 48 matches in the first 13 days, then 16 the last 16,” he said, “so the big push is upfront.

“So in that way, it’s like the Olympics,” Callahan said, “but it’s all soccer.”  

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—Akamai Technologies, Inc. and NESN, the broadcast home of the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins, have announced that they are working together to live stream all 2022-23 Bruins home games and future Red Sox home games in 4K/HDR through the NESN 360 app. 

The first 4K/HDR live stream was the Bruins home opener on Saturday, October 15th, making NESN is the first regional sports network (RSN) in the United States to live stream Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Hockey League (NHL) games in 4K/HDR natively via a streaming app, the companies said. 

The partnership between NESN and Akamai is part of the significant investments that NESN has made to produce games at Boston’s TD Garden and Fenway Park in 4K/HDR. 

NESN is using Akamai Adaptive Media Delivery (AMD) to power 4K/HDR live streaming for the NESN 360 app. Built on the Akamai Intelligent Edge Platform, a network spanning more than 4,100 locations across 135 countries, AMD is optimized for adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming to provide consistent, high-quality viewing across varying network types and connection speeds, Akamai reported. 

“We are so excited to bring 4K/HDR into New England homes on NESN 360,” said Ahmed Darwish, NESN’s chief marketing officer. this technology provides a rich, immersive experience for NESN 360 subscribers and those with access through their TV provider. Fan reaction when we piloted 4K/HDR during the Red Sox season was spectacular, and we look forward to wow’ing Boston sports fans this Bruins season.”

Users can watch the 4K/HDR streams on the NESN 360 app via direct subscription or by authenticating with their TV provider on an iPhone, Android, Apple TV, Fire TV and Google TV. 2023 Red Sox home games will be available in 4K/HDR on the NESN 360 app beginning in April. 

“Akamai has been a crucial partner in providing the streaming infrastructure that we need to deliver 4K/HDR,” said NESN’s vice president of technology, Kenny Elcock. “The NESN team broke new ground, testing around the clock, to produce and package live home games in native 4K/HDR. Akamai media delivery solutions helped get it all into viewers homes as fast as possible,” 

“NESN is proving that the technology to live stream 4K/HDR at scale and consumer demand for the content have both finally arrived,” added Will Law, chief architect, Edge Technology Group, Akamai. “Akamai is proud to partner with NESN in this cutting-edge streaming service and excited to help bring it to our hometown base of avid Boston sports fans.”

Adding 4K/HDR live streaming to the NESN 360 app is the latest in a long string of innovative “firsts” for NESN, the company said. 

With its introduction of NESN 360 earlier this year, the network was the first regional sports network (RSN) to offer a direct-to-consumer streaming service. During the 2022 baseball season, NESN became the first RSN to broadcast MLB games in native 4K/HDR when it announced availability of all Red Sox home games in the high-quality format on DIRECTV, Verizon Fios and fuboTV. Bruins home games on NESN will also be broadcast on 4K/HDR for DIRECTV, Verizon Fios, and fuboTV customers. In 2015, the network was the first RSN to fully automate studio production and the first to deliver all professional MLB and NHL games in HD.

Cypress, CA, February 26, 2019 – After introducing the world’s first single link 12G-SDI production switcher at last year’s NAB convention, FOR-A® forges ahead with a showcase of working 12G technology at the upcoming NAB Show. Production switchers, video servers, keyers and test signal generators that support both 12G-SDI/4K and 3G-SDI/HD resolution will be booth highlights for FOR-A (NAB Booth #C5016.) The 2019 NAB Show will be held from April 8-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“With the HANABI HVS-6000, we are the first to create a production switcher with enough bandwidth to carry the signals all the way through using a single coaxial cable,” said Takaaki Imoto, Senior General Manager of FOR-A Overseas Sales & Marketing Division. “This ability to process 4K video signals that input from a single cable of 12G-SDI is a big step, particularly as we advance toward even higher resolution formats for production. With four times the bandwidth of HD, 12G is the current ideal for high-resolution 4K production. We’re moving forward aggressively with this technology, incorporating it into our existing and developing product range.”

Offering 12G-SDI capability on all inputs and outputs, the 3 M/E HANABI HVS-6000 uses a single cable link. Video signals are processed throughout as a single image. The HVS-6000 is a 12 RU switcher, with a maximum of 80 inputs/32 outputs or 64 inputs/48 outputs. It also offers frame synchronization, frame buffer, 3D DVE, and 4 keyers per M/E with DVE function + 4 DSK’s. Its optional board-mounting SFP connector that supports an IP interface will debut at NAB 2019.

The HANABI HVS-1200, a compact 4K/HD compatible switcher, will be on display as a package supporting 12G-SDI, with the MFR-1000 routing switcher. The integrated HVS-1200/MFR-1000 combination creates a compact and affordable 12G-SDI/4K production system. This switcher builds on the features of the HANABI HVS-490 video switcher and adds 12G-SDI support as standard. The switcher also utilizes a single cable for image processing and is configurable as both a 12G-SDI/4K and as a 3G-SDI/HD switcher. In HD mode, the switcher accepts up to 40 inputs, and in 4K mode it accepts up to 10. In 4K mode, the switcher provides 2 ME performance (1 ME + 1 MELite™), and in HD mode it’s a 6 ME (2 ME + 4 MELite) switcher virtually.

Making its introduction at the show is the new DSK-4800 4K downstream keyer. The DSK-4800 accepts mixed 12G-SDI and quad link 3G-SDI input. It includes frame synchronization for all fill/key inputs. Up to 10-channel keying is supported, with 8 fill/key channels, + still + DVE (optional). Using the optional DVE, operators can enlarge, reduce, or move input signals from one input (including line) over other signals.

The ESG-4200 12G/IP test signal generator will also be on hand in FOR-A’s NAB booth. The ESG-4200 supports 12G-SDI, Video-over-IP SMPTE 2022-6 interfaces and provides a range of audio and 4K video testing.

A 12G-SDI/IP multi-channel video server will be at the FOR-A booth. The MBP-1000VS is ideal for 4K editing environments, offering multi-input/output 4K and HD support and ingest, playout and 4K recording functionality. Users can choose from four SSD capacities with maximum 15TB to meet their system needs and can add an LTO option for immediate archiving of captured 4K material or extended recording.

In addition to single-link 12G-SDI, FOR-A will also demonstrate products that support 4K, IP and HDR. 4K-supporting switchers in the FOR-A NAB booth will include the powerful HANABI HVS-2000, which offers the performance of a 7 M/E switcher; the compact, affordable HVS-490; and the HVS-100, which offers exceptional performance in a portable unit.

IP video introductions include: the SOM-100 media orchestration platform, the USF-10IP IP Gateway, and the MBP-1000VS-IP video server. An integrated baseband/IP control and monitoring system, the SOM-100 is designed for use in a mixed SDI/IP environment. The SOM-100 offers seamless operation of a variety of video equipment, monitored centrally from its interface.

The new version of FOR-A’s popular FA-9600 multi-purpose signal processor supports 3D LUT for advanced color grading and Sony’s SR Live workflow for live HDR production. The dual-channel unit provides HDR and Wide Color Gamut support and conversion of multiple formats, such as: 12G, 4K (UHD), 1080p, and SD/HD. Each of the FA-9600 processor’s two HD/SD inputs includes a frame synchronizer. Because the multi-purpose signal processor features 12G-SDI terminals, optional software opens the door to 4K(UHD) production.

The entire USF-Series of universal system frames, including the USF-106UDC-12G 4K up/down converter (which offers interlace/progressive and up/down conversion for a range of signals from SD and HD to 4K), will be on hand at the FOR-A NAB booth. Other USF series supporting 12G, such as the USF-105FS-12G frame synchronizer, USF-105UC-12G up converter, and USF-101MDX4-12G/101MDX8-12G audio multiplexer/demultiplexer, will also be introduced.

Additionally, FOR-A will demonstrate efficient HD integration with third party graphics, replay systems and production servers, including partner products such as: the ODYSSEY Insight video server; the ClassX content creation and graphics playout solution; Variant Systems Group’s Envivo Replay sports and live event replay solution; Media Links’ IP Media Gateway, Fujitsu’s IP-HE950 H.265/HEVC real-time video encoders; and InSync's frame synchronizer, frame rate converter, and up/down converters. 

Insight TV, the world’s leading 4K UHD HDR broadcaster and producer of native UHD content, has signed a distribution deal with major telecoms operator, T-Mobile B.V. Subscribers across the Netherlands will have access to Insight TV’s thrilling and authentic HD content via T-Mobile’s popular Thuis (Home) service.

T-Mobile Thuis customers, will be able to watch Insight TV’s ground-breaking shows including: Travel With a Goat, Road to Gymkhana GRiD, King of the Hammers, THRU, Breaking Limits, DarkFEST and many more.

Robert de Lint, TV Content Manager T-Mobile Netherlands said, “We are proud to be able to add Insight HD to our T-Mobile Thuis Entertainment package: this Dutch channel with an international look-and-feel delivers original and challenging content, which fits our profile perfectly. To celebrate this introduction we offer Insight HD to all of our T-Mobile Thuis with digital television customers for free this month.”

Natalie Boot, Director of Media Sales, Insight TV adds, “Insight TV strives to provide high quality content to viewers across the world via linear, SVOD and AVOD platforms. We are delighted to announce this latest partnership with T-Mobile Netherlands and look forward to sharing further distribution deals in the coming weeks.”

LONDON — During the upcoming Wimbledon 2018 Championships — taking place from July 2–15 at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London — the BBC plans to stream select tennis matches in 4K resolution picture quality with high dynamic range (HDR) color. The live and on-demand 4K/HDR streams will be accessible to most U.K. viewers watching the matches via the BBC’s iPlayer streaming service.

When 4K, with four times the pixel count of 1080/60p video, is combined with HDR color space — where millions more colors can be displayed — the results are a brighter, sharper image. Viewers can better discern whether a shot was in or out or recognize famous people in the crowd. And HDR-capable displays handle contrast better, revealing more detail in late-day shadows, while preventing exposure problems in sunlit areas.

As was the case with its recent World Cup Games technology trial, the BBC intends to limit the 4K/HDR service — to roughly the first tens of thousands of people who access the streams — to better manage the bigger bandwidth demands.

“The World Cup streams have suffered a few technical teething problems — stuttering and buffering with some devices,” said John Archer, a TV reviewer for Forbes and Techradar. “[There have also been] a few issues with adapting effectively to broadband speeds that are close to the BBC’ 40 Mbps and 20 Mbps streaming quality ‘tiers.’ When the streams have worked well, though, the results have been spectacular.”

According to a spokesman for the BBC, “The trial has given us valuable feedback allowing us to improve our systems.” And reportedly, few, if any, people found themselves blocked from accessing the World Cup games in 4K.

[Read here about how the BBC used IBM Watson for real-time data analytics of match highlights during last year’s Wimbledon]

TV Reviewer Archer added, “Detail and sharpness have been hugely superior to the HD broadcast streams, making the action feel more immediate and much less tiring to watch. The use of HDR has been quite subtle by comparison but has still undoubtedly enhanced the sense of 'being there' that's so important when you're watching sport.”

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ENGLEWOOD, COLO.—While TV broadcasters might not yet be ready to deliver 4K HDR over the air, DISH is champing at the bit to take advantage of NBCU’s 4K HDR coverage of the Winter Olympics from PyeongChang, South Korea, and will offer up to three such events per day on a delayed basis.

[NBC Olympics Pushing 4K HDR for Winter Olympics] 

"For the first time, the Winter Olympics will be available in 4K HDR, marking an exciting milestone for both the TV industry and Olympic viewers," said DISH EVP and CTO Vivek Khemka, in a press release. "We're pleased to work with NBCUniversal to give customers access to this year's inspiring Olympic performances in the clearest resolution and richest color palette available, maximizing the potential of their 4K HDR TVs."

Besides the 4K HDR coverage, DISH subscribers can access 2,400 hours of NBCU live, on-demand and streaming coverage of the Olympics, the company said.

The 4K HDR coverage will be available on a one-day delay. It includes coverage of the Opening Ceremony, figure skating, hockey, short track speed skating, ski jumping and snowboard big air. Coverages of the scenery around PyeongChang also will be made available in 4K HDR.

[NBC to Broadcast 2018 Winter Olympics Live Across U.S.] 

DISH will make its 4K HDR coverage available to subscribers on channel 540 beginning Feb. 10 and running through Feb. 26.