Following on from a successful 2006 which saw the acclaimed delivery of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ and the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006, HBS is continuing its involvement at the forefront of the planning and delivery of high-class events across the globe throughout 2007.

HBS has started a new four-year cycle with FIFA, which includes its appointment as Host Broadcaster for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and assisting FIFA in the development of host broadcast requirements, guidelines and the appointment and supervision of any locally appointed host broadcaster/producer for the Other FIFA Events 2007 – 2010.

Preparations for all four Other FIFA Events in 2007 are in good shape with locally appointed host broadcasters in place and regular coordination meetings and site visits between HBS and the local host broadcasters underway. HBS is working with CBC (Canadian Broadcast Corporation) on the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007, with SBS International (Seoul Broadcasting System International) for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Korea 2007, with CCTV (Chinese Central Television) on the FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007 and with Globo TV on the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2007 (in Brazil).

HBS is working across the world in 2007 on events such as the FIFA Women's World Cup China 2007
(left, Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium) and the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007
(right, Edmonton Commonwealth Stadium)

HBS will coordinate all unilateral client requests and booking arrangements as well as the distribution of the international basic feed. As part of the preparations for these events, HBS will conduct production seminars with the local crews to ensure the smooth and consistent delivery of the multilateral coverage with the production standard format for all four events being SD 16/9 (4/3 protected).

HBS is also working closely with FIFA and the 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) in the planning of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and recently opened its offices in the Safa House in Johannesburg. The first major broadcast milestone on the road to 2010 will take place in Durban on 25 November 2007 with the Preliminary Draw, of which HBS will be the Host Broadcaster. HBS and FIFA will take advantage of this opportunity to organise the first Broadcast Information Meeting (BIM) in Durban, which takes place the day before the Preliminary Draw.

HBS continues to consult on other events across the world. In 2007, HBS is providing support to TVH, the Host Broadcaster of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and is involved in the 32nd America’s Cup in Valencia. This is as part of a joint venture with TWI (an IMG Media Company), teaming up inside ACTV HB (America’s Cup Television Host Broadcast), as part of ACTV (America’s Cup Television) and liaising with ACM (America’s Cup Management) in providing the largest scale television production and distribution of an America’s Cup, which includes over 300 hours of live coverage across the world during 2007 as well as daily highlights and news programmes during competition days.

HBS is also involved in the 32nd America's Cup, currently underway in Valencia. The images above show a presentation studio (left) and the MasterControl Room (MCR), (right)