Tubi’s Free 4K Super Bowl Stream: Why You Might Not Be Able to Watch It

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.

TV Answer Man, I know Tubi is going to have the Super Bowl in 4K for free, but do you need any special equipment, or will it be in 4K on every 4K TV? – Robert, Arlington, Virginia.

Robert, Tubi, the Fox-owned free streaming service, will stream next month’s Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles in upscaled 4K for free. (Upscaled 4K means that the game will be produced in 1080p HD on site but converted to 4K for the home transmission. Native 4K is when the event is produced and filmed on site in 4K and also transmitted to the home in 4K. Most 4K enthusiasts say native 4K provides a more detailed and vivid picture.)

However, you won’t be able to watch it in 4K on just any 4K TV or 4K-enabled streaming device.

A Fox spokesperson tells the TV Answer Man that the Tubi 4K stream of the game on February 9 will be available on the following devices and TVs:

Android TVs
Roku 4K-enabled streaming devices
Amazon Fire TV 4K-enabled devices
Apple TV 4K devices

And that’s it.

That means that 4K TVs which have Android TV software, such as select sets from Sony, TCL, Hisense, Philips, Sharp and Toshiba, will be able to stream the game in 4K using the Tubi app. If your streaming device uses Android TV software, that should work, too, even if it’s not listed above.

However, if your set does not have Android TV software, it will not be able to stream the game in 4K unless you use a compatible 4K-enabled streaming device such as Roku or Fire TV. Television models that do not use Android TV include LG, which uses its own webOS software, and Samsung, which uses the Tizen TV software. Vizio also uses a proprietary software.

To make matters even more complicated, not all companies that use Android TV employ it in all sets. If you’re unsure if your set is an Android TV, you can check in your TV’s Settings or your manual.

If you don’t have a compatible device or set to watch the game in 4K on Tubi, you will still be able to watch it for free on Tubi in high-def.

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

Have a question about a favorite show or new TV technology? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com Please include your first name and hometown in your message.

The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered television for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.