WInter Olympics available in 4K on US satellite platform Dish

[DCI forum]

US satellite pay-tv operator DISH delivers 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. So, the 4K offer is still rather limited with almost everything being limited to HD or even SD.

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.

NBCOlympics.com and NBC Sports app: NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app will feature more than 1,800 hours of Olympic live streaming coverage of all Winter Olympics competition, plus event rewinds and extensive video highlights. DISH customers can easily watch this coverage live at no additional cost by following the TV Everywhere verification process with their DISH username and password.

[DCI forum]

Satellite operator SES is providing 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) satellite distribution for NBC Olympics production of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games, which take place in PyeongChang, South Korea, from February 8 - February 25. NBC Olympics is a division of the NBC Sports Group.

SES uses its satellite platform to distribute the NBC Olympics HDR feed to NBC's affiliates throughout the United States, utilizing the SES-1 satellite located at 101 degrees West. As part of the implementation, SES has provided preconfigured satellite receivers to the affiliates that will be receiving the HDR feed. SES's 4K platform provides multichannel video program distributors (MVPDs) in the United States access to the world's largest bouquet of linear 4K programming.

"NBC Olympics is pleased to work with SES to offer 4K HDR coverage of the PyeongChang Games to our valued distribution partners," said David Mazza, CTO & SVP, NBC Olympics. "The HDR feed distributed by SES, and presented by Xfinity, will complement our HDR Video On Demand offering available to MVPDs and satellite providers across the United States."

"We are pleased that NBC has entrusted SES again, similar to the 2016 Summer Olympics, to help deliver the 4K programming for these Olympic Winter Games," said Steve Corda Vice President, North America Media Platform, SES. "Our 4K platform provides MVPDs throughout the Americas access to the world's largest selection of linear 4K programming."

NBC Olympics will distribute 4K HDR coverage, provided by Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and Japan's NHK, to U.S. distribution partners who will individually choose how they will make the content available to their customers, Dish network has already said it does provide an dedicated 4K channel.

NBC's 4K HDR coverage of the PyeongChang Games will be made available on delay, and will include 4K footage from the Opening Ceremony, hockey, figure skating, short track speed skating, ski jumping, and snowboard big air competitions. Up to four events from the previous day's competition will be provided daily from February 10, the day after the Opening Ceremony, through February 26, the day after the Games conclude.

[DCI forum]

NBC Olympics, NBCUniversal’s comprehensive coverage of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games from PyeongChang, South Korea, will include the availability of 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) to cable, satellite, telco providers, and other partners. Comcast will offer the 4K coverage as its Xfinity brand is sponsoring the 4K coverage. Dish also said it would deliver the 4K to its customers.

NBC Olympics’ 4K HDR offering will be the first time robust coverage of the Winter Olympics or any Olympic Games competition sessions have been presented in 4K High Dynamic Range in the United States. The presentation will be the second consecutive time NBC has delivered coverage of the Olympic Games in 4K. NBC Olympics first delivered coverage of the Olympic Games in 4K during last summer’s presentation of the Rio Olympics, when NBC distributed the Games in 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD).

“The Olympics has always been a platform for the introduction of new broadcast technology,” said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. “The availability of 4K High Dynamic Range coverage of Olympic ceremonies and competitions through our participating multi-channel distribution partners, will be a great showcase for this emerging advancement in the quality of televised sports coverage in the United States.”

NBC Olympics will distribute the 4K HDR coverage, provided by Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and Japan’s NHK, to U.S. distribution partners who will individually choose how they will make the content available to their customers.

“This is yet another first at an Olympic Games, and OBS is proud to continually provide and facilitate the very latest technology to its broadcast partners,” said Yiannis Exarchos, Chief Executive Officer, Olympic Broadcasting Services. “The performances of the best athletes in the World deserve to be captured with the best broadcast technology available.”

NBC’s 4K HDR coverage of the PyeongChang Games will be made available on delay, and will include 4K footage from the Opening Ceremony, hockey, figure skating, short track speed skating, ski jumping, and snowboard big air competitions. Up to four events from the previous day’s competition will be provided daily from February 10, the day after the Opening Ceremony, through February 26, the day after the Games conclude.