Broadband ISP BT UK has informed us that their BTSport TV streaming service will make the 2021 UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League football finals “available for everyone in the UK to watch for free,” including via their YouTube channel if you’d rather not install the app.
Live coverage of the UEFA Europa League Final – Manchester Utd v Villarreal – will begin at 6.30pm on Wednesday 26th May on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport 4K UHD. Similarly, coverage of the all-English UEFA Champions League Final – Man City v Chelsea – will begin on Friday 28th May with a live preview show beginning at 8pm on BT Sport 1.
Both finals will be available for free at www.btsport.com/final, on the BT Sport YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/btsport, via the BT Sport App for small and large-screen devices, and you’ll also be able to watch on Virgin Media’s TV channel 532 (HD) and 533 (UHD).
Simon Green, Head of BT Sport, said:
“After a difficult year for everyone, it’s exciting to be approaching the end of the football season with three English teams making it through to the European finals plus the option of watching it with family and friends in person. Anyone can watch the final, on BT Sport or for free online or on YouTube, or by downloading the BT Sport App and trying out Match Day Experience features such as the enhanced player and Watch Together.”
We note that the YouTube stream for all this won’t be degraded and will deliver the action in UHD (4K) at 60fps (frame rate), assuming you have a broadband connection that’s able to cope with that. YouTube doesn’t say how fast your connection should be to deliver 4K at 60fps, but 4K resolution at 30fps comes attached to a recommended download speed of 20Mbps (i.e. 30Mbps is probably a fair bet for 60fps).
They have previously limited the YouTube stream to 1080p25fps so was a poor experience. Offering the full 50 on YouTube would make a big change. YouTube compress things massively so I would still use the BT website/app for a better experience.
Some people are TV snobs, 1080p isn’t good enough for some anymore now they want it in 4K.
Think yourself lucky BT Sport are offering these games for FREE, if only you had to watch it in analogue then you would know you have lived.
I remember when I were a lad…
@CarlT
Down pity and eating Hovis
If using YouTube to watch and the option is available – check the video quality and change from Auto to 4k.
Stats for nerds will also show the resolution/bitrate/framerate for those who like that sort of thing.
Anyone knows if this YouTube stream in 4K supports HDR?
With a HDR compatible monitor or tv yes
One thing you can never deny, BT fly the flag for British exceptionalism. Be it best-in-class connectivity solutions, unrivalled sports coverage, fantastically affordable TV packages, a full suite of bundled extras with every BT infinity connection – when you choose BT, you know you’re in safe hands.
Is the above post irony? I honestly can’t tell.
Looks to be limited to 1080p 25 fps to me.