HBS has chosen to cover the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ Germany in Widescreen (16/9) HDTV digital format.
HDTV technical standard will be HD-SDI 1080i / 50, a worldwide compatible standard.

Widescreen HDTV and football were always going to be a marriage made in heaven. You only have to look at the shape of the screen, the shape of the football pitch and appreciate the image perfection of HDTV and you realise that this is a giant step forward in viewer enjoyment.
Standard Definition Television has an effective picture resolution of about 400,000 pixels. In the highest resolution digital TV formats, each picture contains about 2 million pixels. This means about 5 times more picture detail on the HDTV screen.
The original impetus for HDTV came from wide-screen movies. Soon after wide-screen was introduced, movie producers discovered that individuals seated in the first few rows enjoyed a level of participation in the action not possible with conventional movies. “Evidently, having the screen occupy a great field of view (especially peripherally) significantly increases the sense of “being there” says Professor Kelin J. Kuhn, an expert on this medium.

Mainly for two reasons:

FIFA standards are calling for a leading edge production

The trend towards widescreen and HD is growing in Europe. HDTV is already widespread in Japan, Korea and the USA and Widescreen is gaining ground in Europe (e.g. Great-Britain).

The wide-screen picture format is intended to provide a more realistic and compelling visual presentation. A wide-screen display is commonly referred to as a "16/9" format, meaning that the picture is 16 arbitrary units wide by 9 units high. By contrast, a conventional display is 4 units wide by 3 units high, or "4/3". Thus, the 16/9 display provides a wider image area that more closely matches the relative dimensions, or aspect ratio, of the cinema.

Yes. HBS completed a full study in 2003 and the main technical set-up is already designed. Extensive support from the industry is assured. All matches of the FIFA Confederations Cup Germany 2005 are being provided in HDTV by HBS as both a dress rehearsal and a demonstration.

HBS will elaborate specific Production Guidelines including the best compromise between 4/3 and 16/9, and on-screen graphics.HBS preparations will also include the Training of Directors and crews. The training started already at the Confederations Cup in 2003 and will continue at the Confederations Cup 2005 and during some League coverage. HBS will also organise a Production seminar ahead of the World Cup.
HBS also intends to invite Broadcast Partners to a Production workshop at WBM1. The aim of the workshop will be to help BP's make the best out of widescreen.

All 64 matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ Germany will be covered in HDTV digital format. In comparison with the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ Korea/Japan, only 48 matches were produced in HDTV.

HBS will use a minimum of 20 HDTV cameras at each match. In comparison with the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ Korea/Japan, only 8 HDTV cameras were used.
Type and availability of SSM cameras (Super Slo-Motion cameras) is still to be confirmed.

Yes. HDTV will be delivered as an option for Broadcast Partners interested in this standard. Specific conditions will have to be discussed with Infront/HBS.

HDTV represents an advance in TV technology even more significant than the introduction of colour. The conversion to HDTV benefits the public because besides delivering much clearer images with more visible details and surround sound, HDTV lets viewers watch motion pictures the way they were intended to be seen: on a wide 16/9 screen, one-third wider than today's 4/3 screens. HDTV is especially well adapted to large displays or projectors which are now broadly available at more and more affordable prices.

The Extended Stadium Feed will be technically available in widescreen HD and SD at the venue and at the IBC. All Super Feeds will not necessarily be available in HD.
HBS standard delivery will be SDTV widescreen SDI 625/50.

Yes. HBS will deliver the feeds to Broadcast Partners and it is up to them to decide how they want to broadcast them. The format really depends on the Broadcast Partner's audience and the level of HDTV or Widescreen sets available in the country.
Broadcast Partners can either broadcast in Widescreen, or in 4/3, or both on separate channels.

Yes. You can (and have to) select the conversion mode according to your specific policy; keeping in mind that HBS shots will be 4/3 protected. This flexibility is also very important for countries, which have chosen intermediate systems such as 14/9 format.

Yes. HBS cameramen will respect HBS Production Guidelines and will receive a specific training. In addition, SD graphics will be designed to be "4/3 safe".

16:9 shoot to protect 4:3:

14/9 is a compromise between 4/3 and 16/9. This format is very common in the UK. When a 14/9 image is placed in 16/9 frame the black bars are substantially reduced in width with a minimal loss of image in a 4/3 frame. Programming is originated in 16:9 but the Director ensures that action is concentrated within a 14:9 safe area. When viewed on a 4:3 screen, a 14:9 picture requires a letterbox of considerably thinner black lines than 16:9. A 14:9 picture can also be zoomed on a widescreen TV with minimal loss of picture information at top and bottom of the picture.

No, you can view widescreen programmes using a standard set although a widescreen TV set would give you a better viewing experience if the FIFA World Cup ™ is to be broadcast widescreen in your country.
However, if you are about to buy a new TV set, we recommend you buy a widescreen set as more and more programming will be available in this format in the coming years. Buying an “HD Ready” set will further allow you to watch HDTV programmes as soon as they are broadcast in your country.

No, you will not miss the action. The programming is originated in 16:9 but the TV Director ensures that action is concentrated within a 4:3 safe area. The difference with a widescreen TV set is that the widescreen viewer sees the main action- like you- with extra information / picture around, such as other players in the area.

You have booked permanent IBC Additional 4-wire circuit extension(s) (COS item 12321). Please note that each time you book — on a per match basis — several additional coordination circuit(s) from TOC to IBC (COS item 23410), will be patched by default following the same ascending order.
Example:

-you have 3 IBC additional 4-wire extensions. These will be labelled 1, 2, 3.
-you have booked 3 additional coordination circuits from TOC to IBC, delivered to you at the TOC as 53, 54, 55. HBS will patch 53 to 1, 54 to 2, and 55 to 3.

When connecting your circuits at the TOC end, it is your responsibility to remember how your IBC extensions are operated.

The 2006 FIFA World Cup™ countdown template will be as follows:
Kick-off minus 10 minutes: Players leave dressing rooms
Kick-off minus 9 minutes: Teams arrive at final regrouping position for last check of players’ equipment. Children walk onto pitch with national flags of competing teams.
Kick-off minus 8 minutes: Children walk onto pitch with FIFA flag and FIFA Fair Play flag, followed by the FIFA General Coordinator, referees and teams. The FIFA anthem is also played at this time.
Kick-off minus 7 minutes: Start of ceremonies, including teams line-ups in front of VIP tribune, national anthems, handshake, team photos, coin toss and exchange of pennants.

Exact timings will be adjusted on match day at the discretion of the FIFA General Coordinator in order to ensure that teams are on the pitch and ready for the start of the ceremony seven minutes prior to kick-off, taking into account issues such as long national anthems.

Yes. These differ only during pre- and post-match and half-time.

No. Please refer to page 71 of the WBM2 Info Manual.

Yes. EBIF of the matches will be included in the CATV circuit at Commentary Positions.

No, except for Tape Play-Out.

For more information about Embedding and Dolby E Transmissions, please consult our FAQ document, by clicking here.