There are several reasons for this – some of which are regulatory. Sadly, the BBC is far behind the other streaming services when it comes to 4K. Most devices these days (Smart TVs and streaming devices) support both 4K and HDR, and TV shows usually support these two technologies together.ĤK / HDR content is becoming more and more common these days – many of the programmes and movies on Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video already support it (as long as you have the right subscription tier), especially with their newer “flagship” shows.

It’s a technology that helps improve the contrast rates between whites and blacks, making the picture much more accurate, while also providing a larger colour palette and more colour shades.

HDR, which you often see mentioned alongside 4K, stands for “High Dynamic Range”. Up until a couple of years ago, we were happy enough with Full HD quality on our TV screens – which gives you a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080.ĤK (also known as Ultra HD) gives you four times the details over Full HD, with a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, In this guide, I’ll take a look at everything you need to do (and own) in order to set up and watch 4K / HDR content from the BBC. With most of the global streaming services now delivering their flagship shows in 4K, the BBC is very much behind the curve, with only a handful of programmes available in 4K via BBC iPlayer.īut all is not lost – the BBC keeps testing 4K (Ultra HD) programming, with a changing selection of shows – and there are a few top-tier programmes, and even the occasional live event, that you can watch on BBC iPlayer in 4K right now – if you have the right equipment.

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