How to Watch Wimbledon 2018 in 4K HDR: Ultimate guide to live streaming the tennis
Wimbledon 2018 is heating up, and with World Cup games getting fewer and farther between, it’s finally time to give everyone’s favourite summer sports event/posh frock show the attention it deserves. If you happen to own the right kind of television, you can tune into the tennis in higher quality than ever. That’s because, for the first time, BBC iPlayer is showing Wimbledon in glorious 4K and HDR.
We’re here to help you make the most of watching the tennis in 4K – here’s everything you need to know about watching Wimbledon 2018 in 4K, including details of how to watch BBC iPlayer 4K HDR Wimbledon live streams.
Related: Watch the World Cup in 4K HDR
How to Watch Wimbledon 2018 in 4K HDR: Everything you need to know
Following on from streaming the 2018 World Cup in 4K HDR, the BBC’s next major 4K HDR event is Wimbledon.
The Beeb has emphasised that, much like the World Cup, these streams are still very much a trial. For now, 4K HDR coverage will be limited to matches played at Wimbledon’s famous Centre Court.
As well as the iPlayer app, you’ll need to have a compatible device and fast internet connection to view the higher quality streams. That said, the BBC has been updating the total number of devices that can handle iPlayer’s 4K streams, and recently announced that the PS4 Pro is also compatible.
You can find the full list of supported devices here.
Slightly disappointingly, iPlayer is continuing to limit the amount of 4K streams available to viewers to the “tens of thousands”. That means you’re going to have to log on nice and early (and get the rub of the green too), in order to watch the tournament in all its glory.
As was the case early on with 4K World Cup streams, feedback from users has been mixed so far, with some highly impressed with the picture quality, and others saying the picture looks too dark. The BBC is aware of the issues, and is looking to iron them out as the tournament progresses.
“Audiences will need a connection of at least 40Mbit/s for the full 3840 pixel Ultra HD or 20Mbit/s for 2560 pixel Ultra HD,” says the BBC.
“Footage will be played at 50 frames per second. Given the variability of Wi-Fi connections, audiences may find a more consistent Ultra HD experience with a wired internet connection to the TV.”
Read more: Amazon Prime Day 2018
It isn’t possible to rewind or restart an Ultra HD live stream right now, but the BBC is working to change this.
Sky Q customers with a 2TB box and Virgin Media ‘Full House’ customers with a V6 box can also tune in to the tennis over cable in 4K (no HDR). However, on Sky, 4K (cabled) coverage is limited to the men’s and women’s singles semi-finals and finals, and on Virgin it’s limited to the men’s and women’s singles finals.
How have you found the BBC’s 4K trials so far? Get in touch with us @TrustedReviews.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
