In this article:
What's available in 4K UHD?
Sky has launched 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) to give customers a premium viewing experience of selected live sports events!
From 21 November 2025, Sky Sport coverage in 4K UHD became available to Sky Sport subscribers with the new Sky Box or Sky Pod, and a 4K compatible TV.
You can now watch 4K UHD content on a new channel, Sky Sport 1 4K UHD (Channel 51). This replaces the current Sky Sport 1 channel, but the schedule is the same as Sky Sport 1.
Sport filmed in 4K UHD will play on Sky Sport 1 4K UHD. When a sports broadcast on Sky Sport 1 4K UHD is only available in High Definition (HD), the content will be upscaled for an enhanced viewing experience.
At times when more than one live sport event is available in UHD, you’ll be able to watch on a pop-up 4K UHD channel to make sure you don’t miss a moment of the action.
What is 4K UHD and why does it matter?
4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) is a high-quality video format four times the resolution of High Definition (HD) and twenty times the resolution of Standard Definition (SD).
Watching in 4K UHD means a sharper image, clearer detail and vibrant, true-to-life colours, when watching on a 4K compatible TV.
What will I be able to watch in 4K UHD?
Sky’s 4K UHD coverage launched with the Ashes, on 21 November 2025. An exciting range of premium sport will be confirmed for broadcast in 4K UHD in the coming months.
At times when more than one live sport event is available in UHD, you’ll be able to watch on a pop-up 4K UHD channel to make sure you don’t miss a moment of the action.
Please note that Sky will deliver a combination of ‘native UHD’ content and HD content that has been ‘upscaled’ to UHD. Native UHD refers to events that are captured, encoded, and broadcast entirely in Ultra High Definition (UHD) from start to finish. Upscaling is a technique that takes video shot at a lower resolution (such as HD) and increases the pixel count to display it in 4K quality.
Will I only be able to watch live events in 4K UHD?
Instant replay of 4K UHD content and recordings of Sky Sport 1 4K UHD will play in 4K UHD.
However, 4K UHD content will play in HD when accessed On Demand.
How do I get Sky 4K UHD?
To watch the Sky Sport 1 4K UHD channel (Channel 51), you’ll need a Sky Sport subscription, a compatible Sky device (new Sky Box or Sky Pod), and a 4K compatible TV:
| Sky device or platform | Broadcast quality |
|---|
| New Sky Box (white) | 4K UHD + HD |
| Sky Pod | 4K UHD + HD |
| Sky Go app and Sky Go website | HD |
| Sky Box (black) | HD |
| Sky Open (free to air) | HD |
How do I know if I have a 4K compatible TV?
To fully experience 4K UHD, you’ll need a 4K compatible TV that supports UHD resolution (3840x2160 at 50Hz).
To enjoy UHD content, you’ll need both an HDCP 2.2-compatible device and an HDMI 2.0 cable. Older HDMI cables may only support HD resolution and won’t deliver full UHD quality. The good news is that when you purchase a new Sky Box or Sky Pod, these UHD-compatible cables are included in the box.
If your TV does not meet the above criteria, you will still receive the content although it will only be in HD format.
Additionally, you'll require minimum 25Mbps internet speed to stream 4K UHD content on the Sky Pod. For the optimal viewing experience, we recommend a fibre internet connection.
Do I have to pay more to watch sport in 4K UHD?
Sky Sport subscribers with the new Sky Box or Sky Pod can watch Sky Sport 1 4K UHD at no additional cost.
Will watching 4K UHD On Demand use up more of my internet data?
Streaming 4K UHD uses more data than SD or HD content. If you are on a capped or limited broadband service, you’ll need to be aware that watching in 4K UHD could use up your allowance faster.
Sky Pod viewers: how do I watch sport in 4K UHD?
- Make sure you are using your Sky Pod on a 4K compatible TV.
- Head to the Sky Pod Home page.
- Choose the relevant event (e.g. ‘4K UHD Ashes Test’) tile at the top of the page.
- Enjoy the action!
To watch anything else, simply click the Watch TV button on your remote.
Sky Pod viewers: why is Channel 51 still the HD version of Sky Sport 1, and where is the new 4K UHD channel?
Right now, the best way to access Sky’s 4K UHD coverage is by clicking on the event tile (eg ‘4K UHD Ashes Test’) on your Sky Pod Home page.
We made the Sky Sport 1 4K UHD channel available at launch, but as we’re still finetuning the experience, we’ve placed it towards the end of our channel lineup and recommend you use the Home page to get to sport in 4K UHD.
You can still watch Sky Sport 1 in HD in its usual spot at Channel 51.
How do I catch the Australian Open 2026 in 4K UHD?
Sky’s 4K UHD coverage of the Australian Open (AO) is only of action from Rod Laver Arena. It’ll be shown on a 4K UHD pop-up channel, which is delivered over the internet rather than by satellite.
Note that if you’re watching AO on Sky Sport 1 UHD, this will be an upscaled World feed – the World feed isn’t available in 4K UHD.
To find AO in 4K UHD, you can do any of the following:
- Click on one of the tiles on the Home Page or Sports Page.
- Use your remote to type in Channel 252.
- Find the AO channel in the Programme Guide (you’ll also see other AO court feeds on a couple of different channels but these won’t be in 4K UHD).
A couple of things to remember about 4K UHD programming:
- You’ll be able to watch instant replays for up to three days after an event ends.
- Highlights will only be available in HD (not 4K UHD).
- The new Sky Box won’t let you record 4K UHD programming that’s broadcast via a pop-up channel (this restriction applies to all internet-delivered channels).
