FIFA, Sony Announce World Cup 3D Schedule Opener. U.S./Slovenia Among 25 Games Presented In Enhanced Format Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 4/9/2010 1:58:00 PM http://www.multichannel.com/article/451283-FIFA_Sony_Announce_World_Cup_3D_Schedule.php?rssid=20062 As is the case with the competition, the first match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be filmed in 3D is the opener: Mexico versus the host nation of South Africa on June 11. In addition to the initial contest, the 3D schedule is highlighted by three of the four quarterfinals, both semifinal matches, the 3rd-place game and the World Cup final on July 11. The U.S. group C match versus Slovenia on June 18 will also get the enhanced treatment. 3D filming will occur at five of the 10 World Cup stadiums: Soccer City and Ellis Park in Johannesburg, as well as venues in Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. All told, FIFA and Sony are teaming on 25 3D matches, as the world's most popular sporting event takes place in Africa for the first time. ESPN, the English-language, TV rights-holder to the World Cup in the U.S., is slated to present all of the competition's 3D matches on ESPN 3D, its fledgling service that has inked an affiliate pact on DirecTV. "The 3D feed from these 25 matches will be made available for broadcast on 3D channels, which can be enjoyed by consumers on their 3D-compatible TV sets in the comfort of their home, almost as if they were in football stadiums themselves," said FIFA TV Director Niclas Ericson, in a statement. As part of FIFA and Sony's efforts to make the 3D viewing experience available to a global network of soccer fans, eight matches will be fed live to digital cinemas and selected venues in 3D HD. Swiss-based Aruna Media AG has been tapped to manage the 3D cinema and entertainment venue rights for live 3D matches. Aruna will broadcast live 3D coverage to about 26 countries and is in discussion with other major markets. The public can also see 3D trailers on Sony Bravia TVs in thousands of Sony-affiliated retail stores around the world. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will also be producing and distributing the official FIFA film in 3D on Blu-ray this year. The following is a list of the 2010 World Cup matches that are scheduled to be filmed in 3D June 11th - South Africa vs. Mexico June 12th - Argentina vs. Nigeria June 13th - Germany vs. Australia June 14th - Netherlands vs. Denmark June 15th - Brazil vs. North Korea June 16th - Spain vs. Switzerland June 17th - Argentina vs. South Korea June 18th - Slovenia vs. USA June 19th - Netherlands vs. Japan June 20th - Brazil vs. Ivory Coast June 21st - Spain vs. Honduras June 22nd - Nigeria vs. South Korea June 23rd - Ghana vs. Germany June 24th - Slovakia vs. Italy June 25th - Portugal vs. Brazil June 27th - Winners of Group B vs. Runner up in Group A June 28th - Winners of Group E vs. Runner up in Group F June 28th - Winners of Group G vs. Runner up in Group H July 2nd - Quarter final July 3rd - Quarter final July 3rd - Quarter final July 6th - Semi final July 7th - Semi final July 10th - 3rd place play-off July 11th - World Cup final
Now, will anyone be watching? Or be able to watch, in 3D, that is.... You would think they would have picked the USA/England match for maximum exposure here.
Maybe it's something to do with the stadium infrastructure? Are the 3D broadcasts international? Still, Argentina vs. Nigeria is a very curious choice.
I read an article in the last week or so (think it might've been an AP wire reprinted by the NYT) stating that Spain, Brazil, Japan, and of course the U.S. have definite 3D channels ready for this year's World Cup, so that was probably also a factor in the selection of venues/games. Incidentally, a web search turned up no indication that the BBC and/or ITV will go 3D this year (though pretty much every game will be in HD). Probably will happen in time for London 2012.
It seemed according to the article that the 3D shooting was only going to take place in certain stadiums. and the US/England game is in that small city with the small city. Had it been in Soccer City, I'm sure it would have been in 3D Again, according to the article, 3D broadcasts are going to a bunch of theatres - not just people's homes. So they don't necessarily need to go via the broadcast networks.
If anybody gets any news about theaters showing the games in 3d please post it. My Tv is not able to do 3D, and well I would love to try the experience.
I'd also like to hear any news on theaters picking up games (either in HD or 3D) ... I would love to watch the beautiful game on such a large screen with surround sound!
This needs to be repeated. Watching World Cup games in 3D in theaters would be amazing. For those of us that live near an IMAX 3D, we are keeping our fingers crossed.
yeah - it's ESPN's Wide World of Sports now - and the entrance fee was $20 and includes some sort of buffet http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/06/goal/ http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/soccer/world-cup
Wow, this news comes in handy! A friend is heading down to Orlando next week on business (well thats what he saids - I think he is cheating on his wife with Minnie - lol) and he was looking for somewhere to watch United States-Algeria. I'll send the links with the info to him. Too bad that game won't be in 3-D though as I know he would love to see something like that. (Last week, he mentioned to me that he loved the way the 3-D look when he tried the setup they had at our local Best Buy store.) Maybe his schedule that day would allow him to stay there and see Ghana-Germany in 3-D in the afternoon. LB...
So how have people's experiences with 3D been? This article from Gizmodo was pretty positive: Watching the World Cup in 3D: The (More) Beautiful Game
I wouldn't be surprised if no one here has. DirecTV.com lists something like 6 televisions as being compatible.