TV Answer Man, what’s the next college basketball game in 4K? And how can you watch it? — Robert, Marina Del Rey, California. 

Robert, Fox tonight will offer a 4K stream of the Indiana-Illinois college basketball game at 8:30 p.m. ET. Illinois, which is 13-5, is a 61.6 percent favorite to beat the 11-6 Indiana Hoosiers, according to ESPN’s Matchup Predictor. (FS1 will simulcast the game in high-def.)

The 4K HDR (High Dynamic Range) stream can be watched on the Fox Now or Fox Sports apps by using your TV Everywhere user name and password from your pay TV provider. (The game will be simulcast in high-def on FS1. Consult your on-screen guide for more information.)

(You can learn more about which providers participate in the Fox 4K program here. To find out what you need to watch 4K on the Fox Sports app, including which devices are compatible, click here.)

The pay TV services that are expected to also carry the game on special 4K channels are DIRECTV, Dish, Comcast, Verizon, Optimum, YouTube TV, and FuboTV. (In FuboTV markets where the Fox affiliate is provided with your programming package.) Check your on-screen guide for more details.

Note: Fox produces most of its sporting events, including NFL games and college games, in 1080p and ‘upscales’ it to a 4K broadcast as opposed to shooting the event in 4K and transmitting in the same format. Upscaling is the process when one video format is converted to another. In this case, Fox takes the 1080p signal and converts it to a 4K format.

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Upscaling 4K is different than what’s called, native 4K, which means the original event was produced in 4K, and broadcast or streamed in 4K as well. This is how ESPN produces its 4K sportscasts.

While some videophiles prefer native 4K over upscaled 4K, Fox’s 4K broadcasts are done with HDR (High Dynamic Range) which can provide a more vivid picture, particularly more intense colors. If it’s done right, the picture can be more dynamic and evocative.

By the way, Fox is doing an upscaled 4K production of all its NFL playoff games this season, including the Super Bowl in February. The next two Fox NFL games will be this weekend: The New York Giants vs. the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. ET and the San Francisco 49ers vs. the Dallas Cowboys at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Robert, hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!

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— Phillip Swann
@tvanswerman