Super Bowl 2025: Will Charter’s Spectrum TV Show It In 4K?

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

TV Answer Man, Spectrum TV does not give us live sports in 4K like some TV companies. But is there any chance they would break down and give us the Super Bowl in 4K?  – Steve, Santa Monica.

Steve, I feel your pain. Charter’s Spectrum TV, the nation’s second largest cable TV operator with 12.3 million subscribers, has been reluctant to offer 4K programming to its video customers although all of its top rivals such as Comcast, DIRECTV and YouTube TV have done so for years. The cable operator has never explained why although The TV Answer Man has asked. Repeatedly.

But some Spectrum TV subscribers this Sunday will be able to watch Fox’s broadcast of the Super Bowl in 4K.

Yes, Bret Picciolo, Charter’s vice president of communications, tells The TV Answer Man that customers who have the company’s Xumo streaming device will be able to watch the Super Bowl in 4K, assuming they have a 4K TV, a connected HDMI cable (2.1 or higher) and the Xumo device set to a picture resolution of 2160p.

How Will It Work?

A Xumo user can watch the game in 4K via the Spectrum TV app in the device’s menu. After clicking on the app, you then go to Fox in the on-screen guide where a message will display that will direct you to a 4K channel in your lineup that will show the Super Bowl. Picciolo said the channel is not Tubi, the Fox-owned free streaming service which will offer the game in 4K. This will be a different 4K channel that is part of the Spectrum TV app, he said.

The Xumo streaming device, which was developed by Charter and Comcast, is designed to replace the traditional cable set-top and was first introduced by the cable operators in late 2023. It’s unclear how many Spectrum TV subscribers actually have one compared to a regular cable receiver. However, if you have the Xumo, you can get the game in 4K.

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

Have a question about a favorite show, streaming service 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.