FIFA REACHES HDTV RIGHTS FOR WC BROADCASTS IN CINEMAS

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European football fans not able to watch the World Cup in high definition might get an opportunity to watch games in HDTV at their local cinema, after Infront Sports & Media, FIFA’s international TV rights agent, reached a deal with Belgium-based Euro1080.

Euro1080, the first HDTV media company in Europe, acquired the non-exclusive rights to broadcast the tournament in theatrical venues and cinemas on a pay-per-view basis. The company will be able to distribute the HDTV service to 23 countries: Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Serbia-Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

Talks have also begun between Euro1080 and FIFA officials about bringing HDTV service to home viewers in selected markets. Currently, the majority of homes in Europe will receive the games in standard, analog transmissions.

Dominik A. Schmid, an Executive Director of Infront, said, “Infront is very happy about this initiative of Euro1080 as it supports the promotion of HDTV as the standard of the future. The agreement enables cinemas all over Europe to transmit matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in HD quality. It also provides an opportunity to showcase HD transmissions to home viewers in markets where national broadcasters are not yet ready to broadcast in HD quality.”

Euro1080’s name derives from the 1,080 lines available on a high-definition TV, compared to 625 for a regular TV, which explains the superior image. Euro1080 was the first European-based company to offer HDTV broadcasts of sports, concerts and other special events.