4K picture quality vs Regular broadcast channel

Hello, glboater!

There could be a few reasons for the differing quality you are seeing. Usually, it's just due to the quality of broadcast that the network is putting out. Another option could be if your TV happens to have various settings for 4K. Try checking to see what options are available, it would probably be something about contrast. Let me know what you find! 🙂

Adding to this thread-- same experience for me looking at the World Series. Fox looks good on its regular HD channel. The 4K stream quality is poor-- mostly due to the muted, washed out color. The audio is also poor (I have a 5.1 surround setup.) As a regular user of premium UHD netflix and prime video 4K HDR content on the Xfinity 4K-capable box, I am really surprised the World Series stream is so bad that I am actually sticking with the "regular" HD channel. 

I also have a Roku Streaming Stick+ which does 4K, but it just can't handle the Fox Sports app's 4K stream-- too jittery. (The color, however, was very vibrant when I checked it out.)

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@mjboh3 wrote:

Adding to this thread-- same experience for me looking at the World Series. Fox looks good on its regular HD channel. The 4K stream quality is poor-- mostly due to the muted, washed out color. The audio is also poor (I have a 5.1 surround setup.) As a regular user of premium UHD netflix and prime video 4K HDR content on the Xfinity 4K-capable box, I am really surprised the World Series stream is so bad that I am actually sticking with the "regular" HD channel. 

 

I also have a Roku Streaming Stick+ which does 4K, but it just can't handle the Fox Sports app's 4K stream-- too jittery. (The color, however, was very vibrant when I checked it out.)

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does your TV decode UHD hdr 10?

Thank you. This made a big difference.

I have the same issue with any live 4k sports (golf, soccer, football, baseball) Comcast broadcasts in HDR.  The network is sending HDR type "HLG" and the X1 is sending HDR10 to the HDMI port. The box is not doing the proper conversion of HLG->HDR10 correctly and all colors are very muted (dull).   

Today, 10/24/20, there is an ABC 4K game Notre Dame vs Pittsburgh in 4k SDR (no HDR) and it looks great.  All the Fox 4k games are broadcasting in HDR-HLG and very dim on X1 DVR.

Also when X1 is sending a live HDR show the menus and guide are all very dark and messed up looking.

My TV supports all HDR types: HDR-10, HDR-10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision

I wish Comcast would fix the HLG to HDR-10 conversion algorithm or add an HLG pass-through mode for its customers with new TVs that support HLG.

The Netflix app seems to render HDR-10 content correctly on the X1.

@Crosscr, thanks, I'll try that for tonight's game. Changing from [Best Available] to locking it to the UHD resolution might be the Fonzie hitting the jukebox move I need.

If that doens't do the trick, the other thing I will try is to take my tuner out of the mix and direct connect the Xfinity box to the TV. The tuner supports HDR10/HLG/DolbyVision, but it would be one more thing to rule out. 

Yes. TV is a Sony XBR X830F that supports HDR10 and HLG. 

I have a tuner in the mix, but it is a Sony STR-DH590 that also supports HDR10, HLG, and DolbyVision, so I don't think that is the problem. Also, other 4K content looks fantastic in this setup. 

You can also try doing what I did to improve the picture quality.......which was switch your tv to movie mode then up the brightness to its highest level[50 in my case] then up the color to 43[out of 50] then I tweaked the BT 1885 to a higher level and one or 2 other things that'd also improve the pq........that should work.[even in regular HD the pq is amazing now]

@Crosscr FOR THE WIN. His solution is the correct one!

I have missed out on 4K for all these post-season baseball games because the feed looked lousy, with muted, almost muddy colors.

Tonight, at the start of Game 5, I made the adjustment:

His solution (in the thread) was to go into Device Settings and change Video Display from 16:9, 2160p60 4K UHD (Best Available) which is fine when you're on regular channels to 16:9, 2160p60 4K UHD which forces the box to send the correct color data, I guess. The picture looks gorgeous. 

Shouldn't require this kind of detective work. Hope Comcast makes the box a little smarter next time. Thanks again, @Crosscr!

@mjboh3,

Thanks for letting us know that the steps provided by @Crosscr helped fix your issue. Feel free to create a post if you need any help in the future. Take care! 

Same here.  Washed out 4k and menus are barely readable ( super dark ).  Samsung 4k on X1.

Xfinity are you cutting out the HDR since there's not enough bandwidth to send 4k signal?

There's some serious color spectrum being removed.

Same issue with the Ohio State Oregon game on Fox.  Color was horrible.  I'll try 30p.  Would also like to know what XFINITY is doing to fix the issue.