What Is ESPN’s 4K College Basketball Game of the Week?

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

TV Answer Man, will ESPN have a college basketball game in 4K this week. Loved the Tennessee-Auburn game. Looked great in 4K! – Gene, Pittsburgh.

Gene, I agree with you. ESPN’s upscaled 4K broadcast of Saturday night’s (January 25) college basketball game between Tennessee and Auburn was very clear and vivid, a splendid showcase for 4K, albeit upscaled 4K.

And I have good news for you. ESPN’s upscaled 4K coverage of college hoops continues this Saturday (February 1) at 6:30 p.m. ET when it will air the North Carolina at Duke game. Duke is the nation’s second ranked team while North Carolina is currently unranked. (ESPN’s main channel will simulcast the game in High Definition.) ESPN’s Matchup Predictor gives Duke an 89 percent chance of winning. The Blue Devils are led by 6’9″ freshman Cooper Flagg who’s averaging 19.5 points a game.

Which TV Providers Will Show North Carolina-Duke In 4K?

YouTube TV, Dish, Sling TV, DIRECTV, DIRECTV Stream, Comcast, Optimum and Verizon are expected to offer the game on their ESPN 4K channels. ESPN does not offer 4K programming on its ESPN TV Everywhere app or ESPN+.

What Is Upscaled 4K?

The ESPN 4K broadcast will be ‘upscaled’ from 1080p HD.  The upscaled 4K means that the game will be produced in 1080p HD on site and upgraded to 4K for the home transmission. ESPN switched to upscaled 4K more than a year ago after previously doing some games in native 4K.

Is It Worth Watching a Game In Upscaled 4K?

Yes. From personal experience, I can assure you the picture is better. The high-def image from ESPN sometimes lacks detail and makes you wonder if it’s actually in high-def. However, the upscaled 4K image usually removes the blurriness and adds a realistic feel to the picture.

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

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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.