Comcast to Stream Super Bowl 57 in 4K with Dolby Vision HDR for Xfinity Users

Those with a Dolby Vision 4K compatible TV and Comcast’s Xfinity X1 service will be able to watch Super Bowl 57 in a new way: in 4K HDR with Dolby Vision. The two companies have announced that they will take Fox’s 4K stream of this year’s Big Game and add Dolby Vision.

You’ll need Comcast’s X1 set-top box and a TV that supports Dolby Vision to enjoy the higher-quality February 12 broadcast. It can be found by saying “4K” in the voice remote control of the X1 set-top box. Dolby says the stream will deliver “lifelike colors, crisp contrast, and rich detail.”

Dolby says Comcast is repackaging Fox’s 4K stream in real time with Dolby Vision. Asked if this would lead to other latency or lag compared to other 4K or HD Fox TV shows, a Comcast spokesperson told CNET that the addition of Dolby Vision “adds no noticeable latency,” with the format adding delay “in the range of few milliseconds”.

You will, however, need the correct Xfinity X1 decoder to get the Super Bowl in Dolby Vision, as The TV Answer Man points out.

Dolby Vision is a high dynamic range video format. “HDR content on an HDR TV can look much more punchy and dynamic than traditional content,” a CNET contributor said. Geoff Morrison explains. The Dolby version of this technology is supported by streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Vudu.

Although this is a first for the Super Bowl, Xfinity and Dolby have broadcast other sporting events in 4K with Dolby Vision, including last year’s FIFA World Cup (which also aired on Fox) as well as the network’s NFL playoff games this postseason. It’s also worth noting for TV picture fans that Fox’s NFL 4K coverage isn’t produced in native 4K but, as The TV Answer Man points out, it’s an enhanced 1080p HDR signal.

Those without Comcast can still watch the Super Bowl in 4K HDR (but without Dolby Vision) through a host of other cable, streaming and satellite providers or with a connection for one of these providers and Fox Sports or Fox Now apps.