Expanding beyond its initial work around 4K, DirecTV will also deliver a mix of sports, music and events programming that will also be delivered in High Dynamic Range, an emerging format that delivers brighter and more vibrant pixels.
DirecTV, the satellite TV service now part of AT&T, will start off its 4K/HDR coverage with an NHL Network simulcast of tonight’s Pittsburgh Penguins-Vegas Golden Knights game, which gets underway at 10 p.m. ET. However, the 4K HDR telecast and simulcast on NHL Network will be blacked out in the Pittsburgh and Las Vegas regions; the regular telecast of the game will be offered in both markets via the local RSNs.
DirecTV is also set to broadcast 13 NBA games in 4K/HDR this season, starting with the December 19 matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks via NBA TV.
On the events side, DirecTV will also present a 4K/HDR simulcast of AXS TV’s live coverage of Brian Setzer Orchestra's 14th annual "Christmas Rocks!" concert from the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. p.m.
Also on tap from DirecTV in that combined format:
-Women's college basketball -- University of Connecticut vs. Duquesne, on Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. ET, via simulcasts of SNY.
-The Toronto Raptors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 27 at 8 p.m. ET from NBA TV.
-The annual Rose Parade, with live simulcast coverage of HGTV’s coverage on Jan. 1, 2018, starting at 11:00 am ET simulcasts of HGTV.
In addition to delivering wide color gamut and 10-bit color depth, DirecTV’s 4K/HDR coverage will also be delivered at 60 frames a second, which should drive more fluidity and clarity to the feed to TVs that support the formats.
DirecTV, which runs three dedicated 4K channels (104, 106, and 105, a PPV channel), noted that if the customer’s 4K TV does not support HDR, games will be viewable in standard 4K.
