(21/06/2013) Sony and FIFA TV will test the Ultra HD technology at three matches of the 2013 Confederations Cup 2013 to help decide whether it will be employed at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
A decision on whether the 2014 FIFA World Cup will be shot and offered in 4K Ultra HD is expected to be made in the coming weeks, following a test that will be conducted during FIFAs Confederations Cup, which currently is taking place in Brazil.
Brazil is the host nation of the World Cup, and the test will allow FIFA and broadcast sponsor Sony to experiment in an actual World Cup venue during a major soccer tournament.
By showing we can do it live, broadcasters will become confident in a 4K World Cup. Then FIFA can make a decision, said Mark Grinyer, Sony's technical manager for the 2014 tournament.
Should the 4K production move ahead, Ultra HD coverage of the World Cup would be available to broadcast rights holders with the capability to transmit 4K - though at this early stage there wont be many of them. Plans might also include distribution to digital cinemas capable of receiving the signal. There is quite a lot of interest, but that would depend on the way FIFA decides to offer the rights, Grinyer explained.
There is a history of using the World Cup as a showcase for developing broadcast technology. Just four years ago in South Africa, 25 matches of the the 2010 World Cup were produced in 3D as a showcase for that format.
An estimated 3.2 billion people (according to FIFA figures) are expect to watch the 2014 tournament in High Definition and Standard Definition. Compared to these figures the people that are able to watch the tournament in 3D or 4K is quite small.
Nevertheless for the 4K test at the Confederations Cup, three matches will be shot in 4K at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte, one of six stadiums being used for the Confederations Cup tournament.
The site is also being used to give the planned World Cup HD broadcast system a trial run. We are testing the design and later we'll build the systems for the 12 World Cup locations with the German systems integrator sono Grinyer said.
As to the 4K test, in addition to determining plans for the World Cup, it will provide Sony with valuable information that could help shape their approach to 4K broadcasting technology and production techniques.
New technology includes a 4K mobile unit that was built in the U.K. for production company Telegenic. The truck is equipped with gear including a prototype CA-4000 4K fibre transmission camera adaptor from Sony, a unit that would send the raw 4K signal from the camera head and down standard fiber to the truck, where the signal will be handled by a processor unit that acts as a converter.
A viewing area will be set up for Sony and FIFA execs, as well as customers and other guests to examine the results. The camera used for the trial might introduce a new look to soccer coverage. Sony's F55 4K cameras, which are designed for TV series production and indie filmmaking, use individual Super 35mm-sized sensors instead of the three 2/3-inch sensors typically used for broadcast gear. Sony will be experimenting to see if the F55 - which lists for $34,900 - would be a viable camera for live sports. If so, the company reasons that it could offer 4K at an HD price
The experiment will include various lenses such as a 4K Fujinon, as well as a prototype lens converter.
Also being tested will be the types of shots that work best and the pace of the editing. There is a lot of data to be looking at, says Grinyer. If you fast cut, what is that going to do? That is part of the experiment.
What will not be tested is the actual broadcast transmission, which is being studied in Europe.
Broadcasters that have already been experimenting with Ultra HD include TV Globo, the exclusive Brazilian rightsholder to the World Cup; Sky Deutschland in Germany; and BSkyB in the U.K.
Wimbledon 2013, which begins June 24, will host additional (nonlive) 4K testing.
The FIFA World Cup opens in Brazil on June 12, 2014.
Most recent headlines
01/01/2026
Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Announces 2026 Noel Schajris Scholarship The scholarship will cover tuition and housing for one Berklee College of Music stud...
01/01/2026
New year, new games, all with RTX 5080-powered cloud energy. GeForce NOW is kicking off 2026 by looking back at an unforgettable year of wins and wildly high fr...
31/12/2025
Back to All News
NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix Scores Again With the Lions-V...
30/12/2025
As the College Football Playoff Enters the Quarterfinals, ESPN Blows Out Its Meg...
30/12/2025
SVG's Best of 2025: Original ArticlesTake a look back at all our coverage of big-time productions, game-changing technologies, and state-of-the-art new faci...
30/12/2025
MELBOURNE, Fla., Dec. 30, 2025 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) will release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, J...
30/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
30/12/2025
It marked the first civilian operational authorization for a HAPS flight in Europe, led by Space42's subsidiary, Mira Aerospace
The flight demonstrated HAP...
29/12/2025
San Francisco 49ers Strike Gold With Halftime Laser SpectacularStunning display caps $200 million renovation of Levi's Stadium techBy Dan Daley, Audio Edito...
29/12/2025
The Cup's Around the Corner: An Inside Look at Broadcast Preparations for th...
29/12/2025
SVG's Best of 2025: Longform VideoWatch the standout keynote conversations, deep dives, and panel discussions from the year for free on SVG PLAY!By Brandon ...
29/12/2025
From crisper Lossless audio and immersive music videos in beta to new Audiobooks+ plans, custom transitions between tracks, and in-app Messages, we keep levelin...
29/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
27/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
25/12/2025
Holiday lights are twinkling, hot cocoa's on the stove and gamers are settling in for a well-earned break.
Whether staying in or heading on a winter getawa...
24/12/2025
What is AI good for? Posted by MTI Film on December 24, 2025
What is AI good for?
What is AI good for?
It's been three years since ChatGPT first cap...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
The Boyfriend' Season 2 Unveils Heartwarming Trailer, Key...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
Love, Fights, and Everything in Between: Badly in Love' Returns for Season 2
Entertainment
24 December 2025
GlobalJapan
Link copied t...
24/12/2025
Scripps Research study links sleep variability with sleep apnea and hypertension How consumers' digital activity trackers could enable personalized health s...
23/12/2025
How guilas Cibae as Dominican Winter League Games Are Locally Produced for Glob...
23/12/2025
BitFire's Jim Akimchuk on Supplying Scalability and Customization in the Clo...
23/12/2025
CAMB.AI Enables European Athletics to Offer Multi-Language SupportPlan is to eventually offer translation into all languages spoken in EuropeBy Ken Kerschbaumer...
23/12/2025
Analysis: As sports media values trend negative, scarcity and quality are king By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 14:08
Print ...
23/12/2025
ESPN, Disney, and NBA Return to the Animated Altcast Fray With Second Edition of...
23/12/2025
End the Year on a High Note and Donate to the Sports Broadcasting Fund Today!By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - 12:25 pm
P...
23/12/2025
The year is winding down, the weather outside is frightful, and it's the perfect time to escape into a story that warms the heart. For listeners looking for...
23/12/2025
A Zeus motor is hot fire tested at L3Harris' Camden, Arkansas, solid rocket ...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Lightware will exhibit several major product innovations at ISE 2026, including the new USB-C BOOSTER-V1, Google Meet. integration for various Taurus UCX models...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Taking the Stage at Carnegie Hall-On a Global Scale Boston Conservatory Orchestra students reflect on their epic concert marking the 80th session of the UN Gene...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's The Great Flood and Culinary Class Wars 2 Top Gl...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things By the Numbers: How the Global Phenomenon Shap...
23/12/2025
Experience the power of WO Automation for Radio's newest service, the System Effectiveness Review. Designed to help you achieve more, a System Effectiveness...
23/12/2025
23 Dec 2025
VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan and Rakuten Symphony Collaborate to A...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
How Steamy Can It Get? Single's Inferno' Season 5 Pre...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
33 Million Global Viewers on Netflix Watched Jake Paul vs. Ant...
(21/06/2013) Sony and FIFA TV will test the Ultra HD technology at three matches of the 2013 Confederations Cup 2013 to help decide whether it will be employed at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
