DirecTV has been stepping up its game for entertainment by providing customers as much access to 4K and Ultra-high-definition (UHD) broadcasting as possible. The company has launched three different channels that offer 4K and UHD: a nature documentary channel, a PPV movie channel and an event channel. Together with CBS, DirecTV delivered a partial 4K/UHD broadcast of the Masters Tournament this past weekend. Now baseball fans can turn to AT&T’s lineup of televised 4K and UHD baseball games on the MLB Network Showcase.
The deal AT&T and DirecTV announced will deliver up to 25 MLB Network games live in 4K and UHD throughout the regular season. The 4K format offers about four times the resolution of full HD. Viewers will be able to see everything from the blades of grass in the field to the seams of the baseball.
“The 4K/UHD experience of DirecTV will bring America’s pastime to life like never before in the convenience of the living room,” Dan York, chief content officer, AT&T Entertainment Group, said.
In order to get the 4K and UHD experience of the MLB Network games, fans will need a DirectTV Ultimate or Premier Package subscription. The Ultimate Package includes over 240 channels for $39.99 a month and the Premier Package is $89.99 a month with more than 315 channels.
Users will also need the latest genie HD DVR (HR54), and either a DirecTV 4K Ready TV or a compatible 4K TV connected to the latest 4K Genie Mini.
“We’re proud of the high standard of quality we’ve established with every aspect of our MLB Network Showcase game telecasts since MLB Network’s launch in 2009,” said Rob McGlarry, MLB Network President. “Thanks to this new collaboration with AT&T, we’re excited to continue to raise the bar of our game productions for baseball fans all season long.”
The first U.S. baseball game that will be broadcasted in 4K will be on Friday, April 15 against the Los Angele Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. Other upcoming 4K games that will be aired include the Cubs vs. Cardinals on April 19 and the Yankees vs. Red Sox on April 29 and 30.
“As a leader in sports programming, we’re continuing to deliver more live events in 4K/UHD and finding new ways to entertain our customers,” added York.
The 4K broadcasting of MLB games and the Master’s Tournament, along with DirecTV’s addition of three 4K channels, is an attempt to keep up with the 4K sports coverage in Canada and Europe. Canada has already aired games in 4K. An announcement was made that the EURO 2016 Championship will also be broadcasted in 4K. 4K and UHD is the latest step to give users a more realistic view and a chance to make them feel like they are at the game live. If the MLB Network is successful, we can expect not only more 4K baseball games, but a flood of 4K coverage in all sports.