After social media users spotted the appearance of a Ultra Boost option on the NOW app last month, 4K UHD is now officially available if you’re got the right device.
- Mostly benefits NOW Members with sports.
- Devices that support NOW’s Ultra Boost limited – some 4K TVs won’t support NOW Ultra Boost
NOW’s 4K UHD era has begun with a £9 monthly Ultra Boost add-on that gives users access to four sports channels in UHD, plus selected cinema, entertainment and sports content on-demand.
Rumour over the imminent arrival of 4K UHD on NOW surfaced last month when NOW’s Apple TV 4K app was updated to include the option. During the last 24 hours, NOW’s website has been updated and is now officially available.
The updated NOW app is currently rolling out across various supported devices, opening up NOW 4K UHD ahead of the start of the 2024-25 football season.
NOW Members can upgrade via the ‘My Account’ section of the NOW website or app. Check features and device compatibility below.
Features
The Ultra Boost is offered with a free seven day trial, after which it’s available for £9 a month, which will auto-renew unless cancelled. It’s also available to users with just an Entertainment Membership, although most of the 4K UHD content is sports. However, even if you’re not benefitting from 4K UHD, the Ultra Boost also allows users to stream NOW on up to three devices (compared to two devices on the original Boost).
However, the number of devices that support NOW’s Ultra Boost remain limited.
Some 4K UHD TVs that have the NOW app installed currently don’t support 4K UHD streaming on NOW. So you could have a TV that can access 4K UHD on iPlayer or Netflix, but not NOW.
Which channels do I get in UHD via NOW Ultra Boost?
Ultra Boost subscribers get access to up to four sports channels.
- Sky Sports Main Event
- Sky Sports F1
- Sky Sports UHD 1 and 2 (ad-hoc ‘pop-up’ channels that showcase a variety of extra live sport)
All other UHD content on NOW is on-demand only. You’ll see the UHD icon appear next to on-demand programmes like House of the Dragon on compatible devices..
NOW Boost comparison
Compare NOW’s standard offer with the two Boosts on offer from today:
| Ultra Boost (4K UHD) | Boost (HD) | Standard | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (per month) | £9 | £6 | – |
| Video quality | UHD | HD 1080p | 720p |
| Concurrent devices | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Sound quality | Dolby Atmos | 5.1 Surround | Stereo |
| Ads | Ad-free on demand | Ad-free on demand | With Ads |
Restrictions and compatibility
NOW is designed to be available on a variety of third-party devices. As a result, your viewing experience will vary considerably depending on which device you’re using.
Mobile users swipe sideways to view full table.
| Device Type | HD Boost HD quality | HD Boost Dolby 5.1 | Ultra Boost UHD resolution | Ultra Boost HDR colour | Ultra Boost Dolby Atmos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG | 50 fps not available | ✔ | 2018 models or later, webOS4 or newer | 2018 models or later, webOS4 or newer | 2018 models or later, webOS4 or newer |
| Samsung | ✔ | ✔ | 4K models from 2018 or later. Tizen 4 & newer | 4K models from 2018 or later. Tizen 4 & newer | 4K models from 2018 or later. Tizen 4 & newer |
| Hisense | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Hisense Roku TV | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Sony Android TV | ✔ | ✔ | On-demand content only, 4K Bravia models 2020 & later. | Selected 4K Bravia models 2020 & later. | Selected 4K Bravia models 2020 & later. |
| Google TV | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Sharp Android TV | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Philips Android TV | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Panasonic Android TV | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Bush or Hitachi Android TV | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Toshiba Android TV | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| JVC Android TV | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| TCL Android TV | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Cello Android TV | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Amazon Fire TV by JVC | ✔ | ✔ |
Ultra Boost on streaming sticks, boxes and consoles
The Ultra Boost is also available on Fire TV Cube, Fire TV Stick (on-demand content only), Apple TV 4K, Roku 4K boxes and sticks, Chromecast Ultra.
PS5 is the only game console that currently supports Ultra Boost.
❌ You can’t stream in 1080p HD or 4K UHD on PCs, Macs, tablets or mobile devices.
NOW Sports Members will also get access to the full Sky Sports+ service from next week, with both the main linear channel, plus extra streaming-only live feeds covering every EFL game from the opening weekend. This is available to any Sports Member, even without a boost.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: Sky/NOW