EntertainmentStreamingIs BBC iPlayer showing Euro 2024 in 4K HDR?Strange broadcast decisions might spoil your enjoyment of the actionWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentStreamingIs BBC iPlayer showing Euro 2024 in 4K HDR?Strange broadcast decisions might spoil your enjoyment of the actionWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Strange broadcast decisions might spoil your enjoyment of the action
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
(Image credit: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
The Euro 2024 football tournament is well underway, with the last-16 round coming up fast, but there’s a question I’ve been asked more than any other – and it’s nothing to do with what’s happening on the pitch.
Family members, friends and T3 readers in the UK have wanted to know whether they can watch the live coverage of the Euros in 4K HDR. And the basic answer is that they can’t.
Sadly, even though we’ve had successful trials of major tournament broadcasts in Ultra HD before, there are no games being shown in 4K at all. Not even on BBC iPlayer, which is more than capable of the format.
That includes the semis and final, which have traditionally been given a boost in other tournaments.
This will likely baffle many. After all, Sky Sports and TNT Sports regularly broadcast Premier League matches in 4K HDR and Euro 2024 is a bigger deal. But there’s actually a simple reason – cash!
Why are the Euros not in Ultra HD?
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While it’s possible that all of this summer’s 51 matches could be filmed and streamed in 4K HDR, it has been deemed prohibitively expensive – especially when viewers are getting the coverage for free.
Most global broadcasters that show matches in UHD either take the extra costs on the chin or charge their customers for the privilege. Both Sky and TNT Sports fall in the latter category.
In addition, some countries don’t have the capabilities to broadcast live 4K HDR content. Indeed, of the main terrestrial broadcasters in the UK, only the BBC offers some UHD content.
It shares the rights to Euro 2024 with ITV and that means around half the matches wouldn’t be shown in the format anyway. We don’t even get the HDR stream on ITVX.
So, it’s a hefty sum to commit to for UEFA, when a large number of its broadcast partners can’t even take the feed. And ultimately, if it can’t recoup the expense through broadcast rights, it’s hard to justify the extra expense.
Even if it leaves most of our TVs and streaming devices in the UK underutilised.
At least Wimbledon will be infull-fat 4K HDR on BBC iPlayerfrom 1 July. We’ve got that to look forward to, so it’s not all bad news.
Today’s best streaming device dealsAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2023$59.99$44.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025Google Chromecast with Google TV$23.62ViewSee all pricesLow StockApple TV 4K (2022)$128.89ViewSee all pricesNvidia Shield TV Pro$196.98ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best streaming device dealsAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2023$59.99$44.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025Google Chromecast with Google TV$23.62ViewSee all pricesLow StockApple TV 4K (2022)$128.89ViewSee all pricesNvidia Shield TV Pro$196.98ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best streaming device dealsAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2023$59.99$44.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025Google Chromecast with Google TV$23.62ViewSee all pricesLow StockApple TV 4K (2022)$128.89ViewSee all pricesNvidia Shield TV Pro$196.98ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best streaming device deals
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2023$59.99$44.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025Google Chromecast with Google TV$23.62ViewSee all pricesLow StockApple TV 4K (2022)$128.89ViewSee all pricesNvidia Shield TV Pro$196.98ViewSee all prices
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2023$59.99$44.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2023$59.99$44.99ViewSee all prices
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2023
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2023
$59.99$44.99View
$59.99$44.99
$44.99
See all prices
Deal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025
Deal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025
Deal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025
Google Chromecast with Google TV$23.62ViewSee all prices
Google Chromecast with Google TV$23.62ViewSee all prices
Google Chromecast with Google TV
Google Chromecast with Google TV
$23.62View
$23.62
$23.62
See all prices
Low StockApple TV 4K (2022)$128.89ViewSee all prices
Low Stock
Low Stock
Low Stock
Low Stock
Low Stock
Apple TV 4K (2022)$128.89ViewSee all prices
Apple TV 4K (2022)
Apple TV 4K (2022)
$128.89View
$128.89
$128.89
See all prices
Nvidia Shield TV Pro$196.98ViewSee all prices
Nvidia Shield TV Pro$196.98ViewSee all prices
Nvidia Shield TV Pro
Nvidia Shield TV Pro
$196.98View
$196.98
$196.98
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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