NBC to Air the 2026 Winter Olympics In 4K (First Day TV Schedule)

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Buy Me a Coffee!

TV Answer Man, any news on whether the Winter Olympics will be in 4K on NBC? DIRECTV? – Gene, Pittsburgh.

Gene, the 2026 Winter Olympics from Northern Italy will be held from February 6 through February 22. NBC, which has the U.S. broadcast rights to the winter games, will offer coverage on NBC affiliates, USA Network, CNBC and its streaming service, Peacock.

But will NBC offer coverage of the games in 4K? Answer: Yes! YouTube TV, one of the providers that will carry the 4K feeds, has confirmed this on its app.

The 4K coverage will be upscaled, meaning NBC will use a 1080p production and convert it to 4K for the home transmission.

Which TV Providers Will Carry the Olympics In 4K?
DIRECTV, Comcast’s Xfinity TV, Charter’s Spectrum TV, Dish, Sling TV, Verizon and Optimum TV are also likely to offer the Winter Games in 4K since they have carried NBC events in 4K in the recent past. But we will have to wait for official confirmations.

Fubo, which is currently in a carriage dispute with NBC, will not provide the game in 4K at this time. That could change if the two companies settle before game time.

Will Peacock Stream the Olympics In 4K?
Peacock currently says the games will be in HD on its streaming app. But The TV Answer Man this week will ask NBC if that is correct. The streamer has a history of mislabeling its format choices on live sporting events.

NBC confirms it will offer a 4K feed of the Olympics on Peacock. See our update.

What Is the First Day Olympics Events In 4K?
YouTube TV’s guide currently says the 4K coverage will not begin until February 8 at 7 a.m. ET with cross-country skiing and men’s skiathlon. (The opening ceremony is Friday, February 6, but the streamer does not list that as being available in 4K, at least not as of this morning.) Later on February 8, men’s & women’s snowboarding, biathlon, alpine skiing, and speed skating are listed as 4K coverage events.

It’s unclear if the 4K events will be live, recorded or a combination of both. Hopefully, NBC will provide some clarity over the next two weeks.

Bob, I hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!

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