Why beIN Sports is not broadcasting the World Cup in 4K in France
Unlike M6, which broadcasts in 4K, beIN Sports has returned to Full HD, citing technical constraints due to the late acquisition of broadcasting rights.
Une caméra en bord de terrain avant le match France-Sénégal ce mardi à East Rutherford (New Jersey). (P. Lahalle/L'Équipe)
Broadcaster beIN Sports, a non-exclusive carrier of the World Cup in France, has faced criticism regarding its broadcast quality. Unlike the 2022 tournament in Qatar, where matches were available in 4K, this summer the network has reverted to Full HD. This has caused frustration among subscribers, who are comparing the experience unfavorably to the channel M6, which offers 4K SDR for a significant portion of the matches.
Subscribers have taken to social media to express their disappointment, noting that they often switch to other channels to secure a higher-quality image, despite paying a monthly subscription fee. The situation is particularly stark as beIN Sports currently broadcasts the tournament in 4K HDR in other regions, including the Middle East and North America.
It's a shame not to offer 4K content for the World Cup. We pay 15 euros a month to be forced to switch to M6. SebMorenoCarpio
The 4K is really beautiful, despite the SDR on M6. The transition to beIN Sports is jarring, even though the channel receives the UHD feed. Alex_InDaHouse2
In response to inquiries, beIN Sports cited timing issues as the primary justification. The technical procedures required to connect to the International Broadcast Center (IBC) mandated a deadline of mid-December. Because the broadcasting rights were obtained relatively late, the network could not finalize the necessary technical infrastructure for 4K distribution in time.
The network stated that it prioritized launching the broadcast under the best conditions possible to ensure quality coverage for viewers. They added that they remain attentive to future opportunities to provide more sports events in 4K once technical conditions and preparation timelines allow for it.