BT Sport to broadcast Champions League Final in HDR

BT Sport to broadcast Champions League Final in HDR
Image credit: BT Sport

BT is set to broadcast in HDR for the first time next Saturday (1st June) ahead of the launch of its £5/month 4K HDR service later this year. 

But don’t expect a leap in colour reproduction from your pixel-packing 4K stream on your TV this time, as BT Sport’s HDR presentation for the UEFA Champions League Final will be limited to a HD resolution.

Naturally, BT Sport's Ultra HD, non-HDR broadcast of the Champions League Final will be available to BT Sport subscribers on BT Sport (channel 433) and Virgin TV (channel 532).

As stated on BT Sport, ‘logged in customers with a HDR-capable device will be served with a tile on the homepage so they know the Champions League final is available to them. HDR will be referred to in the ‘Player-chooser’ pop-up so customers know to watch in the standard player if they want it. The app will detect HDR compatibility and serve the appropriate stream’.

With BT confirming the arrival of its £5-per-month 4K HDR service 'ahead of the new football season', it well could pip Sky to the post. Sky's HDR service has been delayed from its original 2018 launch, but is expected to be coming to Sky Q this year.

Becky Roberts
Freelance contributor

Becky is a hi-fi, AV and technology journalist, formerly the Managing Editor at What Hi-Fi? and Editor of Australian Hi-Fi and Audio Esoterica magazines. With over twelve years of journalism experience in the hi-fi industry, she has reviewed all manner of audio gear, from budget amplifiers to high-end speakers, and particularly specialises in headphones and head-fi devices.

In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.