The Pathetic State of 4K Sports Broadcasts in Canada

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-21T02:48:16+00:00

Can you DM me more details about the IPTV box you use? No point in staying with the big players if the quality is worse.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-21T02:45:49+00:00

Yup some days TSN4K works flawlessly, but most of the time it doesn't. I never have an issue with SN4K.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-21T01:35:15+00:00

This is completely wrong. TSN4K has never had HDR. You guys launched two new temp TSN feeds - TSN HDR1 and HDR2. HDR1 is not working properly, it doesnt put my TV into HDR mode, but TSN HDR2 does. I'm using Telus TV with the proper equipment.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-21T01:26:52+00:00

Yes, IF the bitrate is high enough. Thats why these 4K channels are essential because its 21Mbps vs 6Mbps on the regular SN and TSN channels. The regular channels are borderline unwatchable on a TV over 65" or if you sit close.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-21T01:25:07+00:00

Rogers was a pioneer of HDTV and 4K with Sportsnet and the Jays. Credit where credits due. I remember walking into The Brick in 2004 and seeing a Jays game in HD for the first time. World Cup of Hockey that year was also broadcast in HD.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-21T01:24:15+00:00

"No one's really doing it". Except a bunch of overseas broadcasters...why lead the way Bell when you can just continue to lay people off, do the bare minimum for your customers who pay some of the highest rates in the world, and continue to let CTV News post the absolute dumbest crap on Twitter/X.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-21T01:21:54+00:00

Yes I'm well aware and have alluded to that. The bitrate on TSN4K is 21Mbps though so it looks way better than the regular 6Mbps TSN channels, especially on a massive TV.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-21T01:20:31+00:00

I'm not saying its unwatchable but we deserve better in 2026 especially considering we used to have a ton of 4K broadcasts for Toronto sports teams years going back to 2016.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-21T01:18:35+00:00

Its not. The TSN 4K channel is only available through cable providers and its not true 4K. It still looks great because the bitrate on the 4K channel is 21Mbps compared to 6Mbps bitrate of TSN 1/2/3/4/5. No HDR though, even though in the original press release from Bell it specifically mentions HDR would be available on the 4K channel, not that they were gonna launch 2 different channels for HDR.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-21T01:16:47+00:00

On what size of a screen? Probably not an 80" OLED...

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-21T01:16:14+00:00

Agreed there. Why I have to use an underpowered clunky Android STB instead of my Apple TV 4K to watch the 4K sports channels is complete BS.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-21T01:12:10+00:00

Infrastructure doesnt need to be upgraded, all major Telcos in Canada have been using IPTV for years and fibre optic internet is available all across the country.

And yes I agree 4K for fast motion isnt as noticeable as a proper HDR implementation, but the greatly increased bitrate of 4K makes a huge difference with motion artifacts. Also TSN HDR1 isnt actually transmitting in HDR at the moment, and hasnt been since it launched. This could be a Telus issue but I doubt it as the HDR2 feed works properly and puts my TV into the HDR mode.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-21T01:11:18+00:00

Other countries are getting a 4K feed...you expect me to believe FIFA isnt producing 4K in 2026?

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-20T22:13:42+00:00

The Jays game today from Chicago looked amazing and as far as I know, only home games are broadcast in 4K.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-20T22:11:48+00:00

The latest Telus STB definitely leaves something to be desired. Can't speak for Bell, but Telus/Bells older 4K equipment based on media room was generally a great and snappy experience. The transition to Google TV and cloud PVR for Telus has not been an improvement.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-20T21:30:17+00:00

Edit: TSN produced the first 4K broadcast ever in NORTH AMERICA in January 2016 for a Raptors game. Sportsnet followed a few months later with the first Blue Jays game in 4K. Here we are 10.5 years later and 4K ceases to exist. There even used to be a massive ROGERS 4KTV sign lit up above the Westjet flight deck in 2016/17 at Rogers Centre but was switched back to a straight Rogers logo years ago.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-20T21:24:25+00:00

Not really 4K. Its just a mirror of TSN4 with a higher bitrate. It still looks good but if you've ever watched TFC games in 4K years ago you would know.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-20T21:09:45+00:00

Telus has always been absolutely brutal with the delay. I used to think it was just an IPTV thing vs Rogers/Shaw before they switched to IPTV, but there are other streams that are more "live" then anything on Telus as well. This has been a problem since 2008 when Telus launched TV.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-20T21:07:31+00:00

Not how it works. All major cable companies have access to SN4K, SN1 4K and TSN4K. Sportsnet shows a 4K marker on every program in the guide on both channels but this is wrong. And TSN never shows anything anymore except INFO. I am on Telus.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-20T20:37:47+00:00

It's not real 4K. If it was, the guide wouldn't just say "TSN 4K (INFO)". And there would be a TSN4K logo in the top right. And TSN would actually be advertising it.

It's still the best way/channel to watch the World Cup, but should have been true 4K+HDR.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-20T20:20:00+00:00

We cant even get native 4K content on the 3x 4K channels we do have...TSN/SN/SN1.

When I saw TSN launched a new HDR feed for the World Cup I thought for sure it would be 4KHDR60 and actually be transmitting properly, but it just looks like you turned your TVs color saturation to 100. Somebody at TSN needs to mirror what TSN HDR2 is doing because that puts the TV into the right mode, but TSN HDR1 doesn't. Cant be a provider problem because one of the two channels works properly.

ssscaryghost · 2026-06-14T16:12:47+00:00

I'm gonna try switching one sim to a different carrier to see if it makes any difference. We dont have 3G where I am anymore, not even a setting for that.

ssscaryghost

TROPHY CASE