Sling is poised to make a splash by mid-2024, delivering seamless 4K streaming experiences to its discerning customers. The platform promises that Sling TV subscribers will soon enjoy outstanding content in stunning Ultra High Definition (UHD). The event will air on Fox Sports on July 16.
The corporation notes that its 4K expertise will initially be reserved for clients in select markets, with potential for expanded high-resolution options in the near term. “Get able to see your favourite sports activities like by no means earlier than,” mentioned Seth Van Sickel, senior vice chairman of product & operations, Sling Video Providers.
FuboTV has been offering 4K streaming on select sports events since 2019, ahead of YouTube TV. Why Univision all the way? In 2016.
While it’s accurate that most sports events aren’t broadcasted in 4K resolution. Despite claims of being 4K, numerous streaming services may actually offer upscaling from 1080p content. Broadcasting live sports in 4K poses significant challenges due to the multitude of cameras needed to comprehensively cover such events. While main NFL video games require the use of 4K cameras, these high-definition cameras come at a significantly higher cost compared to their HD counterparts.
Several hurdles must be overcome. As high-resolution 4K cameras are employed, a substantial increase in cable requirements is necessary, necessitating at least double the amount of cabling connecting the camera to the production space. With a major sporting event, the sheer scale of infrastructure required can be staggering, involving thousands of kilometers of dense cabling to support a single high-definition camera, not to mention 80 separate cameras spread across the venue. 4K cameras significantly expand the range of necessary video console inputs by a factor of four.
The stream requires processing and compression for broadcast, consuming a significant amount of computational resources. Storing these processors in a cool environment incurs an additional expense. Lastly, broadcasters must transmit their feeds to distributors, many of which struggle to accommodate 4K signals. The entire endeavour proves to be a costly affair, despite the fact that 4K TVs have become commonplace in many homes over the past decade.
Sling aims to sustain its venture into 4K streaming by partnering with Fox Sports to broadcast school and professional soccer matches, as well as securing rights for the 2024 Paris Olympics on NBC. Perhaps this could finally make 4K sports streaming the norm, rather than an occasional experience.
