Does Charter’s Spectrum TV Offer Live Sports In 4K?
By Phillip Swann
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TV Answer Man, when will Spectrum TV have sports in 4K? EVERYONE ELSE DOES!! – Sam, Chincoteague, Virginia.
Sam, major TV providers such as Comcast, DIRECTV, Dish, and YouTube TV have offered live sports in 4K for years. However, Charter, which owns the Spectrum TV service, had resisted, suggesting that consumer demand for 4K programming is lukewarm at best.
But I have good news for you. Spectrum TV is now offering live sports in 4K for video customers who have Xumo streaming boxes. The networks available in 4K on the Xumo box are NBC, ESPN, Fox and FS1. That means you can watch upscale 4K college football games this weekend on the Xumo box from Fox, ESPN and NBC.
I confirmed this yesterday with a Charter/Spectrum TV spokesman who noted that the cable op first offered a live sporting event in 4K last February when it showed the Super Bowl in the format.
How Does It Work?
To watch live sports in 4K on the Xumo box, a Spectrum TV video customer must have a 4K TV, a connected HDMI cable (2.1 or higher) and the Xumo device set to a picture resolution of 2160p.
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 the network 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 game in the format. This will be a different 4K channel that is part of the Spectrum TV app.
What Is a Xumo Box?
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 now get games in 4K. If you don’t have a Xumo, contact your Charter/Spectrum TV customer service team to get one.
Sam, I hope that answers your question. Happy viewing and stay safe!
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