Archive notice: This article was originally published on April 9, 2010. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
After FIFA and Sony had already announced that matches from the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa would be broadcast in 3D for the first time, the two partners are now announcing details of the 3D project. For the first time, millions of football fans worldwide will be able to experience the matches of the 2010 World Cup in three dimensions.
A total of 14 professional HDC cameras from Sony (model HDC-1500), each used in pairs at the matches, will capture the action on the pitch. Sony’s new MPE-200 3D processor box enables automatic alignment of the connected camera pair and error correction in a 3D rig, including image geometry and colours. The box is the only available system of its kind to date. Since the FIFA Confederations Cup, which took place in South Africa last year, Sony has been working on further developing the 3D processing of dynamic football images and has meanwhile conducted various tests of 3D broadcasts in Europe.
3D technology will be used in five of the ten World Cup stadiums: Soccer City Stadium and Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, as well as in Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. A total of 25 matches will be broadcast using the new 3D technology. The list includes the World Cup’s most attractive matches – among them the opening match on June 11, 2010, at Soccer City Stadium (South Africa against Mexico) and the final on July 11, 2010, in Johannesburg. Below is an overview of the matches that will be broadcast in 3D:
- June 11, 16:00: South Africa - Mexico
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June 12, 16:00: Argentina - Nigeria
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June 13, 20:30: Germany - Australia
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June 14, 13:30: Netherlands - Denmark
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June 15, 20:30: Brazil - North Korea
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June 16, 16:00: Spain - Switzerland
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June 17, 13:30: Argentina - South Korea
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June 18, 16:00: Slovenia - USA
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June 19, 13:30: Netherlands - Japan
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June 20, 20:30: Brazil - Ivory Coast
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June 21, 20:30: Spain - Honduras
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June 22, 20:30: Nigeria - South Korea
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June 23, 20:30: Ghana - Germany
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June 24, 16:00: Slovakia - Italy
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June 25, 16:00: Portugal - Brazil
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June 27, 20:30: 1st Group B - 2nd Group A
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June 28, 16:00: 1st Group E - 2nd Group F
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June 28, 20:30: 1st Group G - 2nd Group H
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July 2, 20:30: Quarter-final
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July 3, 16:00: Quarter-final
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July 3, 20:30: Quarter-final
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July 6, 20:30: Semi-final
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July 7, 20:30: Semi-final
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July 10, 20:30: Third-place play-off
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July 11, 20:30: Final
“The three-dimensional images from these 25 matches will be made available for distribution through 3D channels. This will allow viewers with 3D-capable television sets to watch the matches comfortably from home as if they were in the stadium themselves,” explained Niclas Ericson, Director of FIFA TV. “While negotiations with well-known broadcasters are still ongoing, I can already confirm that ESPN in the USA and Sogecable in Spain are our first partners for the 3D live broadcasts. We expect to be able to announce further partners shortly.”
FIFA and Sony have set themselves the task of presenting the impressive 3D experiences to as many football fans as possible. For the first time at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, there will therefore be a global project for 3D public viewing. Eight matches will be broadcast live to digital cinemas and other venues worldwide, where audiences can enjoy the images in high-resolution 3D quality. FIFA has commissioned Swiss company Aruna Media AG to manage the exclusive rights for three-dimensional broadcast of the matches in cinemas and other locations. Aruna plans live 3D broadcasts of World Cup matches in 26 countries. Negotiations with potential partners are currently under way.
Sony once again underlines its leading position in the dynamic market for 3D technology and is one of the most important pioneers of these innovative entertainment solutions for the optimal entertainment of football fans – regardless of whether they watch a match live in the stadium, on a television using the new 3D technology, or at a public viewing. “Sony has many years of experience in developing professional 3D technologies and 3D content for cinemas,” commented Hiroko Saito, Deputy General Manager of Global Sponsorships, Sony Corporation. “True to our motto ‘From the lens to the living-room’, we participate actively in every stage of the 3D value chain. We are proud of the advantages of our ‘3D World created by Sony’, in which we combine our expertise in professional solutions, consumer electronics, and film and video-game production. We are delighted that we can now expand our 3D portfolio further by joining FIFA to connect the world of football with a completely new entertainment experience.”
In addition to the live 3D broadcasts and public-viewing events, Sony will show World Cup highlights on 3D-capable BRAVIA television sets at around 4,000 retailers and 200 Sony flagship stores worldwide. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has also announced that the company will produce and distribute the official 3D FIFA World Cup (TM) film on Blu-ray Disc this year.
