England will not be a part of Sony’s 3D coverage of the World Cup unless the team progresses to the quarter-final stage – and even then seems unlikely to have a broadcaster to screen it.
Sony and football’s governing body FIFA have announced that five out of the 10 stadiums used for the 2010 World Cup will play host to matches captured in the 3D format, beginning with the opening game between hosts South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City, Johannesburg on June 11 and the final one month later. Other highlights include Netherlands v Denmark on June 14 and Portugal v Brazil on June 28.
“The 3D feed from these 25 matches will be made available for broadcast on 3D channels, which can be enjoyed by consumers on their 3D-compatible TV sets in the comfort of their home, almost as if they were in the football stadium themselves,” said Niclas Ericson, director, FIFA TV. “Whilst discussions with major broadcasters are ongoing, I am very pleased to announce the first confirmed partners for the 3D live broadcast, who are ESPN in the US and Sogecable [Digital+] in Spain. We expect further announcements to be made shortly,” he added.
In the UK the rights to the World Cup are shared between the BBC and ITV, and although both broadcasters now have HD channels up and running, the arrangement locks out Sky that launched its own 3D channel last Saturday. “We’re not a rights holder and the way they’re sold is by region, so the World Cup rights are held by BBC and ITV. We’re open to however they could be adapted, but it’s not within our control to do it,” Brian Lenz, director of product development at BSkyB, told Broadband TV News.
Unless an announcement is forthcoming UK viewers may have to wait until the launch of the official Official 3D FIFA World Cup Film on Blu-ray Disc later in 2010.
Full list of Matches
1. June 11 16:00 RSA v MEX
2. June 12 16:00 ARG v NGA
3. June 13 20:30 GER v AUS
4. June 14 13:30 NED v DEN
5. June 15 20:30 BRA v PRK
6. June 16 16:00 ESP v SUI
7. June 17 13:30 ARG v KOR
8. June 18 16:00 SVN v USA
9. June 19 13:30 NED v JPN
10. June 20 20:30 BRA v CIV
11. June 21 20:30 ESP v ON
12. June 22 20:30 NGA v KOR
13. June 23 20:30 G A v GER
14. June 24 16:00 SVK v ITA
15. June 25 16:00 POR v BRA
16. June 27 20:30 1st B v 2nd A
17. June 28 16:00 1st E v 2nd F
18. June 28 20:30 1st G v 2nd
19. July 2 20:30 Quarter finals
20. July 3 16:00 Quarter finals
21. July 3 20:30 Quarter finals
22. July 6 20:30 Semi finals
23. July 7 20:30 Semi finals
24. July 10 20:30 3rd place match
25. July 11 20:30 Final
