Q. I got a 4K TV for Christmas and I have DIRECTV. Do they have any live shows in 4K this month? — Pete, Naples, Florida.

Pete, the answer is yes, but the lineup is a bit sparse. As you may know, there is a growing amount of Video on Demand programming in 4K on streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, but live shows in 4K are still few and far between. Broadcasters are still reluctant to invest in live 4K productions, apparently because they feel that consumer demand is still limited. Consequently, TV services that air live 4K, such as DIRECTV and Dish, often have little to offer.

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For instance, this month, DIRECTV’s live 4K channel, which is 106, will air eight NBA games and four English Premier League soccer games in the new picture format. And that’s it. No NFL playoffs. No hockey. No golf. No primetime dramas or comedies in 4K. Nope, just some basketball and soccer.

Considering that millions of consumers are spending thousands of dollars on new 4K sets, you would think the lineup would be more attractive. But welcome to the often frustrating world of 4K TV.

That said, here is a list of the games that will be broadcast live in 4K on DIRECTV during the month of January, starting with this Saturday’s game; four other NBA games, and one English Premier League match, aired in 4K earlier this month. (Note: The NBA games will be in 4K HDR; the soccer games will just be in 4K.)

NBA
January 12, 8:30 p.m. ET
San Antonio at Oklahoma City

January 14, 8:30 p.m. ET
Charlotte at San Antonio

January 21, 3 p.m. ET
Orlando at Atlanta

January 28, 10:30 p.m. ET
Atlanta at Los Angeles Clippers

English Premier League Soccer:
January 13, 11:15 a.m. ET
Tottenham at Manchester United

January 19, 12: 15 p.m. ET
Arsenal at Chelsea

January 30, 2:45 p.m. ET
Liverpool at Leicester City

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— Phillip Swann