Record service bookings for FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013
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FIFA TV and its appointed host broadcaster HBS have secured record service bookings for broadcast coverage of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013, in a clear indication of huge demand for broadcast services this year ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil™.
This exceptional demand for coverage underlines the emergence of the FIFA Confederations Cup as one of the largest sporting events in the global sports calendar and reflects intense interest in Brazil as an emerging international powerhouse.
FIFA TV and HBS will provide content and broadcast services to 110 world feed takers and 45 commentary positions for the Opening Match in Brasilia.
This record interest reflects the success of FIFA’s strategy of taking distribution and sales of television and multimedia rights in-house and outsourcing the operational aspect of host broadcasting services.
This has maximised media rights’ distribution and created a stable, flexible and open structure for best practice in servicing broadcasters. FIFA also benefits from the long experience of HBS and its previous knowledge of FIFA event operation.
Media Rights Licensees covering 202 territories around the world will broadcast FIFA TV’s expansive, first class content to millions of viewers, with competing nations expecting to enjoy bumper viewing figures.
Some key figure from the FIFA Confederations Cup:
-          2,740 accredited Radio & TV media rights holding personnel
-          600 Host broadcaster accreditations
-          Total of 3,340 broadcast accreditations
-          93 broadcasters/entities accredited in Brazil
Director of FIFA TV Niclas Ericson said the figures were proof of increased global audience interest in FIFA’s full range of international tournaments.
“Broadcast interest in the FIFA World Cup is immense, but we are also seeing increased demand for coverage of all of our tournaments,” Ericson said. “The FIFA Confederations Cup promises to give millions of viewers around the world a real taste of what to expect next year when Brazil hosts the greatest sporting show on earth.”
FIFA TV is offering an expanded and dazzling array of pre-tournament content for the Confederations Cup, including a full-length documentary on the history of the tournament, vignettes and promos.
Sony will be testing 4K technology in Belo Horizonte and NHK will test 8K technology in Rio de Janeiro.
Sony and FIFA TV will produce three matches at the FIFA Confederations Cup with the world’s first purpose-built 4K mobile production unit, testing the technical and creative potential for 4K technology in live sports coverage and paving the way for using 4K at future events.
4K, already used in the cinema industry, allows broadcasters and production houses to build a future-proof catalogue of content