Call it “Fore!” K.
DirecTV says it will broadcast all four rounds of The Masters golf tournament in 4K resolution, starting April 7. According to the company this is the first live 4K broadcast in the country, and as far as we know they’re correct.
Only a select portion of the tourney will appear in 4K, however. “AT&T will broadcast live the Amen Corner feed, which represents portions of the 11th, 12th and 13th holes at Augusta National Golf Club,” according to the press release from AT&T, DirecTVs parent company.
To accommodate the broadcast DirecTV is launching a dedicated 4K TV channel earlier in April, which will also feature “4K content from Audience Network, documentaries and more.”
To get the channel you’ll need to subscribe to DirecTV’s Ultimate or Premiere package, own the latest Genie HD DVR (model HR54, right), and connect it to a compatible 4K TV–namely, one with an HDMI 2.0 input that has HDCP 2.2 copy protection.
4K resolution promises improved picture quality and sharpness, although in our experience it’s often difficult to tell from regular high-def. Current sources of 4K TV shows and movies include streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Video, as well as a new disc format called Ultra-High Definition Blu-ray.