BBC to stream FA Cup semi-final and final in UHD and HDR

BBC Sport will stream next month’s FA Cup final and one of this weekend’s FA Cup semi-finals live in UHD and high dynamic range (HDR) on iPlayer, the corporation has announced.

Manchester City versus Brighton on 6 April and the final on 18 May, both at Wembley Stadium, will be made available in the next generation formats via the Red Button on iPlayer or directly through an iPlayer app on a connected TV.

Viewers will need a compatible TV or display and an internet connection of at least 40 Mbps to get the full UHD coverage.

At the same time, it has also been revealed that the UHD coverage will be the main feed from which the BBC takes both its HD and SD output.

Arena Television is BBC Sport’s outside broadcast partner for the FA Cup.

BBC R&D head of broadcast and connected systems Phil Layton said of the UHD and HDR element: “Our research has already provided a highly effective way for free-to-air broadcasters to put HDR into their Ultra HD programmes, and we’re working on a range of projects to make Ultra HD even better for audiences and the industry.”

The HDR element will make use of Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG). Pictures will be streamed at 50 frames per second.

User numbers will be capped at “tens of thousands of people watching live at a time”, the BBC said.