Dish Details 4K/HDR Coverage of World Cup

Artem Dzyuba of Russia celebrates after he scores his team's third goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup match against Saudi Arabia on June 14.

Dish Network shed a few more details about its plans to offer all World Cup 2018 matches in 4K and High Dynamic Range.

Dish said its coverage in the format, which started today with the matchup between Saudi Arabia and tournament host Russia, is being delivered on channel 540. World Cup signals in 4K HDR from Dish are supported on its Hopper 3 DVR. Viewers, of course, will also need a 4K HDR TV to watch the World Cup fixtures in their full glory.

Among U.S. MVPDs, Layer3 TV and DirecTV are also delivering World Cup games in 4K. Comcast X1 subs with 4K-capable boxes will have access to Telemundo’s 4K coverage of the World Cup on a VOD, next-day basis.

Dish is also helping subs keep tabs on the matches – and how to view or record them – via its Soccer Zone app. The app, available through July 15 on all internet-connected Hopper devices, also lets customers select favorite countries, view scores and stats, and track how teams make their way through the group stages and brackets.

Dish said Soccer Zone is featured in the Apps menu, Dish’s GameFinder app, and can be accessed on channel 835.

Among OTT TV providers, Hulu announced this week that it will offer live and on-demand coverage of all World Cup matches across Fox and FS1 (99% Fox coverage – 96% local affiliates, 3% national) and Telemundo (100% coverage), along with recaps and highlights.

Hulu also has added a World Cup Hub that highlights all live and upcoming games, as well as a “Team Collection” area where viewers can find their favorite teams and add them to the service’s “My Stuff” area so those games are recorded as the tournament progresses.

For the semifinals and finals games of the tournament, Hulu will offer a multi-stream experience (five live bonus feeds) to its live TV subscribers.