On 30 January HBS, in conjunction with Infront and T-Systems, hosted a special workshop for New Media Licencees of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. More than 100 attendees from 19 countries were present for the event, which was held at the Hilton Park Munich.

The session was officially opened by Infront Executive Director Dominik Schmid, followed by presentations from HBS CEO Francis Tellier, Infront Vice-President of New Media Matthias Ziehl, Infront Vice-President of Broadcaster Servicing Thomas Lessenich, and representatives from T-Systems.

Matthias Ziehl, Francis Tellier and Dominik Schmid (from left) at the New Media Workshop.

The workshop covered a number of key issues including specific new media packages offered by HBS, taking advantage of HBS production originated in HD.

HBS will service the very special requirements of New Media Licencees through a dedicated approach. It is the first time in sports broadcasting that the New Media Licencees have direct access to the IBC and are being provided with a state-of-the-art and sophisticated New Media Content Package, tailor-made for their respective needs and markets.

Based on the standard licence of four minutes of raw material, material is used creatively to provide the client a rich menu of options including near-live clips, match summaries and competition summaries, graphics, and different language voice-overs.

Those vital 'Near Live' video clips will arrive with the viewer in minutes. The editor selects the shot and uses 'Pan & Scan' technology to zoom in and capture the core action or goal, producing a picture that is much more exciting for tiny handsets.

"The 'Pan & Scan' technology on its own is not new," said Francis Tellier, CEO of HBS. "What is new is the first time utilisation of this technology for New Media Licencees on the basis of the high-quality HDTV multi-feeds produced by HBS. This combination will provide perfect focus".

A wrap-up session allowed the licencees to get a clear picture of what steps they will have to take in order to get maximal returns from participation in the World Cup. Francis Tellier reminded licencees of the most important questions now facing them, among them whether to take a content package or opt for live signals (or both) and whether to work remotely or from the IBC (or both).