DISH to deliver Olympics in 4K HDR

[Scott Greczkowski]

DISH to deliver NBCUniversal's coverage of PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics, including 4K HDR content
- Access to 4K HDR coverage and 2,400 hours of live, on-demand and streaming HD content
- Collapsible Olympic Winter Games channel in guide eases navigation of NBCUniversal's broadcasts across five networks
- Dedicated NBCUniversal Olympic Winter Games app for up-to-date medal counts, event schedules and more

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Feb. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- DISH today announced that it will deliver NBCUniversal's 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) coverage of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games from PyeongChang, South Korea. DISH subscribers will also have access to 2,400 hours of NBCUniversal's Olympic live, on-demand and streaming coverage—the most ever for a Winter Games.

"For the first time, The Winter Olympics will be available in 4K HDR, marking an exciting milestone for both the TV industry and Olympic viewers," said Vivek Khemka, DISH executive vice president and chief technology officer. "We're pleased to work with NBCUniversal to give customers access to this year's inspiring Olympic performances in the clearest resolution and richest color palette available, maximizing the potential of their 4K HDR TVs."

4K HDR coverage will be available on one-day delay and include footage from the Opening Ceremony, figure skating, hockey, short track speed skating, ski jumping, and snowboard big air, as well as PyeongChang scenics. Up to three events from the previous days' competition schedule will be provided daily on DISH channel 540 from Feb. 10, the day after the Opening Ceremony, through Feb. 26, the day after the Games conclude.

4K HDR provides audiences a more realistic picture with enhanced brightness, contrast and color. To view NBCUniversal's 4K HDR coverage, DISH customers must have a Hopper 3 and 4K HDR television.

DISH will offer several other features to help viewers get the most out of the Olympic Winter Games:

Sports hub on DISH channel 147: In addition to live Olympic coverage on local NBC channels, DISH will offer a sports hub for easy navigation of NBCUniversal coverage across NBCSN, USA Network, CNBC, the Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA and DISH channel 540 featuring NBCUniversal's 4K HDR coverage of the Olympic Winter Games. DISH's sports hub can be found on channel 147, labeled as "2018 Winter Olympics Channels."

"Olympic Winter Games" app: DISH will offer an NBCUniversal Olympics app on internet-connected Hopper (all generations), Hopper Duo, Joey (all models) and Wally set-top boxes. The app features real-time medal counts dynamically provided by NBCUniversal, and showcases the complete NBCUniversal Olympics TV roster by schedule and network. Accessible via the "Apps" menu or channel 159, viewers can use this app to tune to any live event or record upcoming events.

Olympics on-demand: DISH is offering an on-demand catalog of more than 150 hours of exclusive NBCUniversal Olympic coverage. On-demand content will include pre-Olympics clips, 2014 Sochi Olympics highlights, athlete profiles, event replays and highlights, medal ceremonies and post-event commentary.

Sports Bar Mode: With NBCUniversal's coverage presented across several channels, DISH's Sports Bar Mode will provide a useful tool to fans interested in watching multiple events airing simultaneously. Available on Hopper 3, Sports Bar Mode is a multi-channel view that divides a 4K or HDTV screen into four quadrants, each with the ability to display a different program.

All Hopper, Hopper Duo, Joey and Wally customers can access a similar multi-view experience with the "NBC Olympics TV Experience" app, which displays up to six pre-selected Olympic programs simultaneously. This view can be accessed via the "Olympic Winter Games" app, "Apps" menu or on channel 100.

 

[Ilya]

Perfect!

 

[Ilya]

4K HDR coverage will be available on one-day delay and include footage from:

• Opening Ceremony,
• figure skating,
• hockey,
• short track speed skating,
• ski jumping,
• snowboard big air,
• PyeongChang scenics.

Up to three events from the previous days' competition schedule will be provided daily on DISH channel 540 from Feb. 10, the day after the Opening Ceremony, through Feb. 26, the day after the Games conclude.

To view NBCUniversal's 4K HDR coverage, DISH customers must have a Hopper 3 and 4K HDR television.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

What no curling in 4K HDR?

 

[Ilya]

What no curling in 4K HDR?

They are shooting with 8K cameras. Which I suspect are bulky. I think they will favor sports events where they can use stationary cameras.

 

[Bobby]

Let the games begin!

 

[camo]

So is there a minimum subscription package for this? I have 120 package and see no 147 or 540 channels available.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Wont be available until later today, Uplinks happen in the afternoon.

 

[gadams]

They are shooting with 8K cameras. Which I suspect are bulky. I think they will favor sports events where they can use stationary cameras.

There are few sporting events more stationary than curling! ;-)

 

[Ilya]

There are few sporting events more stationary than curling! ;-)

It’s not about the sports action, but more about camera angles. I am pretty sure they use mobile and handheld cameras for curling.

 

[gadams]

I suspect that it probably has as much to do with the fact that, to the uninitiated, watching curling is almost as exciting as watching paint dry (or ice melt). Personally I find it fascinating, but more along the lines of a chess match than a visually dramatic spectacle such as figure skating or snowboard acrobatics. If it were up to me I’d cheerfully ditch ice hockey in favor of curling in 4K, but I’m probably in the minority view on that one.

 

[Cheddar_Head]

I suspect that it probably has as much to do with the fact that, to the uninitiated, watching curling is almost as exciting as watching paint dry (or ice melt). Personally I find it fascinating, but more along the lines of a chess match than a visually dramatic spectacle such as figure skating or snowboard acrobatics. If it were up to me I’d cheerfully ditch ice hockey in favor of curling in 4K, but I’m probably in the minority view on that one.

I love curling too but not sure what 4K would add to the viewing experience. On the other had 4K makes watching hockey better, mostly on seeing the puck and goalie saves.

 

[eddie willers]

If it were up to me I’d cheerfully ditch ice hockey in favor of curling in 4K, but I’m probably in the minority view on that one.

Not so. This good old boy Georgia Bulldog fan stumbled onto curling last time around and it became my favorite event. And not a one of them was named "Bubba".

 

[bluegras]

Wont be available until later today, Uplinks happen in the afternoon.

4k channel is already to go all dish has to do is to turn it on its been testing for while.on james long webste last week it came back on.

 

[jcvaughan]

Can the H3 record in 4k?

 

[cfunk]

Can the H3 record in 4k?

Yes

 

[Pepper]

Can the H3 record in 4k?

Anything a Dish DVR can receive, it can record.

 

[gadams]

I love curling too but not sure what 4K would add to the viewing experience. On the other had 4K makes watching hockey better, mostly on seeing the puck and goalie saves.

No question that hockey is a better use of 4K than curling. I’m just not a hockey fan.

 

[navychop]

I’d better go buy a UHD TV quick. Oh, wait. I have no interest in sports.....

 

[Riverpilot]

Looks like 147 channel is up. Pretty cool, has all the channels right there... I like that. Thumbs up Dish.