It’s Super Bowl season again! Super Bowl LIX is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, February 9 at 6:30 PM at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, with the Philadelphia Eagles taking on the Kansas City Chiefs.
It’s the third year in a row that the Chiefs have been in the Super Bowl and the second time in as many years that they’ve been up against the Eagles, making it the second-shortest span between a rematch since the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills went head-to-head two years in a row in ’92 and ’93.
Needless to say, it’s poised to be an exciting event, and those who can’t be there in person (which, let’s face it, is most of us) will be left looking for ways to get the best viewing experience at home.
While traditional cable subscribers should have plenty of options, cord-cutters and cord-nevers aren’t being left out, and there are plenty of ways for Apple fans to catch the action.
The Best Way to Watch Super Bowl LIX in 4K
The good news is that it’s easier than ever to get a high-quality stream on your Apple TV 4K. Fox, the network broadcasting the big game this year, will be streaming it in full 4K UHD quality with 5.1 surround sound via the Tubi streaming service.
Tubi is an ad-supported streaming platform that Fox acquired in 2020 for $440 million. It made its presence known during Super Bowl LVII two years ago with a viral ad during the last face-off between the Chiefs and the Eagles, making it only appropriate for Fox to ramp it up again for this year’s rematch game.
The service’s 2023 appearance was solely to increase awareness of the streaming service. At the time, nobody at Fox or Tubi envisioned that it would be simulcasting the big game two years later.
This marks the first time that a free streaming service has broadcast the Super Bowl in 4K. It may be worth going that route even if you have a traditional cable package that will be carrying the game since many broadcast networks still only stream in 1080i or 720p, especially in smaller cities where stations haven’t updated to the “Next-Gen” ATSC 3.0 standard for digital broadcasting.
Getting ready to stream via Tubi is as simple as downloading the app from the proper App Store and signing up for an account. Tubi is available for the Apple TV 4K, iPhone, iPad, and even the Vision Pro. While Super Bowl LIX will stream in 4K UHD on all platforms, you’ll get the best quality on the Apple TV 4K and Vision Pro. No iPhone or iPad has a 4K resolution (3840 x 2160); the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro comes the closest at 2752 x 2064.
Although there’s no Tubi app for the Mac, you can use any modern browser and watch the stream by signing into tubitv.com with a free account.
Unlike other content on Tubi, you’ll need an account to watch Super Bowl LIX, so if you’re planning to go this route, we’d strongly recommend signing up now, as things could get pretty busy on game day.
Other Ways to Watch Super Bowl LIX from your Apple Devices
While Tubi is the best free option by far, it may have a few more ads than the main event. Fortunately, several other paid options are available. Here’s a quick run-down:
- Comcast Xfinity: If you’re a Comcast Xfinity TV subscriber, you’ll be able to watch Super Bowl LIX in “Enhanced 4K,” which includes not only maximum resolution, but also Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos for the most immersive experience possible. However, you’ll need to use a compatible Xfinity 4K HDR set-top box to get that; streaming through the Xfinity Stream app is limited to 1080p.
- YouTube TV: The game will be streamed on YouTube TV in 4K HDR10 with surround sound, but you’ll need to pay for the “4K Plus” upgrade to get the best quality. That’s $10/month on top of the standard YouTube TV plan, although new users can get it free for 30 days. YouTube TV is available on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. YouTube TV typically costs $82.99 per month for the base package. Still, the company is using Super Bowl LIX as an opportunity to try and attract new customers with several promotions, including a 21-day free trial and $69.99/month for the first six months.
- Hulu + Live TV: If you’re already a Hulu subscriber with the Live TV add-on, the game will be broadcast on the FOX channel just like it would on your cable box. The downside is that there’s no 4K option here; it’s 1080p only, but at least you’ll get surround sound. The Hulu app is available for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Hulu’s Live TV only package costs $81.99, but for a buck more, you can also add ad-supported versions of Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+.
- NFL app: You’ll need to have a paid NFL+ subscription, but at $6.99 a month, that’s not a high cost of entry. However, you’re getting what you pay for here, as it’s the lowest streaming quality: 1080p at 30 frames per second. The NFL app is available for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, but not the Vision Pro.
With Tubi offering free 4K streaming, there’s not much reason to sign up for any of the above services just to watch the big game. Still, they’re mostly decent options for those who are already subscribers, and some of the incentives they’re offering right now might be enough to tip the scales if you’re considering them.
Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that Fox is still only capturing the game in 1080p and upscaling it to 4K for Tubi and its own networks. However, among the 27 super slow motion, 23 high resolution, 16 robotic, 10 wireless, and two SkyCams it’s deploying for the game, Fox Sports has said it plans to use a 4K SkyCam. That’s a first for a Super Bowl, and we’re hoping those shots will be broadcast in their full native 4K glory.
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