ESPN to Air Florida-Auburn Game In 4K This Saturday

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

TV Answer Man, hey, haven’t seen your post on ESPN’s 4K game of the week! Will there be one? – Gene, Pittsburgh. 

Gene, relax. ESPN was a little late with the announcement this week, but the sports network will deliver an upscaled 4K broadcast of Saturday afternoon’s (February 8) college basketball game between 6th ranked Florida and top-ranked Auburn. (ESPN’s main channel will simulcast the game in High Definition.)

The SEC matchup will tip off at 4 p.m. ET. ESPN’s Matchup Predictor gives Auburn an 82.1 percent of winning. The Tigers are led by 6’10” senior forward John Broome who’s averaging 18.2 points a game and 10.9 rebounds.

Which TV Providers Will Show Florida-Auburn 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.