Redakcja Choose TV
This week marks the beginning of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be held for the first time simultaneously in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With the start of the tournament comes a question that many fans have been asking for years: will the matches be available to watch in 4K HDR quality? Although the organisers have prepared a signal that allows for transmission in the highest quality of image, this does not mean that every broadcaster will choose to utilise it.
HDR is becoming more important than 4K
A few years ago, it seemed that 4K would quickly become the standard for major sporting events. However, reality has turned out to be more complicated. More and more television stations today are choosing broadcasts in 1080p HDR, forgoing full 4K. The reason is simple. HDR can significantly improve image quality, contrast, and colours, while requiring much less bandwidth than native 4K broadcasting. For broadcasters, this means lower costs and easier signal distribution. According to available information, FIFA provides a production signal in 4K HDR, but its use depends on local partners who own broadcasting rights.
And what about Poland?
At the moment, there has been no official information confirming the broadcasts of all matches of the 2026 World Cup in 4K HDR for Polish viewers. Even if some matches are shown in higher quality, much will depend on the television operator, the streaming platform, and the equipment used. It is also worth remembering that simply owning a 4K television does not guarantee reception of broadcasts in this quality. Applications, decoders, and support for HDR formats and surround sound are also significant. Data published by foreign operators indicates that even in countries offering Ultra HD broadcasts, some transmissions are merely upscaled from a lower resolution. Therefore, in practice, the differences between individual markets can be quite significant.
Although technology today allows for sports broadcasts in 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos, the 2026 World Cup shows that the industry is still in a transitional period. For many broadcasters, HDR is becoming a priority, offering a significant improvement in image quality with much lower technical requirements than full 4K. Polish fans will still have to wait for official information regarding the quality of broadcasts available in our market.
source: flatpanelshd
