Samsung & ESPN Present ESPN’s First Live Native 4K Sports Telecasts

Beginning this weekend on Oct. 12, ESPN will deliver select regular season college football games live in native 4K resolution as part of the “Samsung QLED 4K Game of the Week.” This agreement with Samsung, who serves as production collaborator and presenting sponsor, kicks off with Saturday’s matchup between No. 7 University of Florida and No. 5 Louisiana State University at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and DIRECTV on channel 107.9at*. This “Samsung QLED 4K Game of the Week” live telecast marks the first in a package that includes six college football games this season, as well as a 4K feed that will be part of ESPN’s “Megacast” presentation of the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Jan. 13, 2020.

“Samsung QLED 4K Game of the Week” marks ESPN’s first foray into fully produced live, native 4K sports programming. Upcoming “Samsung QLED 4K Game of the Week” game schedules will be determined and announced on a week-by-week basis and will be available at Samsung.com/qledsports.

“After months of planning and technical testing, we are excited sports fans can watch 4K UHD College Football games as part of the Samsung QLED 4K Game of the Week,” said Jodi Markley, EVP, ESPN Content Operations and Creative Services.  “As 4K technical resources and workflows become more readily available, we will continue to grow this standard across our operations.  4K images are stunning and we look forward to sharing them with fans.”

Added Grace Dolan, Vice President, Marketing, Home Entertainment at Samsung Electronics America, “This is why teaming up with ESPN for the Samsung QLED 4K Game of the Week is such a pivotal point for the TV industry. Being able to experience true, native 4K college football games live on ESPN for the first time ever is a game changer. With a variety of super large screen size options, stunning picture quality, dazzling colors and ultra wide viewing angles, Samsung QLED TVs allow fans to enjoy 4K college football action like they’re actually at the game with their friends from the comfort of their homes.”

Said Rita Ferro, President, Disney Advertising Sales, “Innovation is a hallmark of The Walt Disney Company and Samsung. As the leading TV manufacturer in the world, Samsung was a natural fit to help us deliver college football in native 4K, and their ongoing involvement in these productions will help us continue to build upon what we can bring to fans and advertisers as the 4K boom really begins in earnest.”

Tim Gibson, VP Video and Application Marketing, AT&T, added, “It’s been a momentous year for us as we continue to innovate and deliver the best in sports in vibrant 4K HDR, and we’re excited to give college football fans even more content options with ESPN.”

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment enterprise, features more than 50 assets – nine   U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN International and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

^*Limited 4K HDR programming available. 4K HDR compatible equipment and eligible package required. If 4K TV does not support HDR, content will be viewable in standard 4K. Other conditions apply.