ITV

Tag: World Cup

  • 30 billion viewers expected to watch World Cup

    30 billion viewers expected to watch World Cup

    MUMBAI: More than 30 billion people around the world are expected to tune in to watch the 2006 Fifa World Cup in the course of the month-long tournament.

    A report in Sapa-AFP indicates that channels across Asia are eagerly awaiting the opportunity. The television ratings forecast expect a huge boost as compared to the event four years ago.

    While the boost is probably due to the tournament being in Europe, where soccer is akin to a religion, a lot of Asians will tune in this time.

    Meanwhile a report in the Financial Times indicates that a radical plan to restructure international football has been prepared for top European clubs. This envisages the World Cup being held every two years.

    The proposal, called Grand Slam World, is part of a presentation commissioned by the G-14 grouping of European clubs – a collection of the 18 richest sides in Europe – by Hypercube, a Dutch consultancy.

    Another option called Grand Slam Euro will see continental tournaments, such as the European championship, also held every two years, while a possible World Cup for clubs would be contested every four years.

    Making the World Cup, which starts in Germany on Friday, a biennial event is the most radical of four options outlined in a 36-page presentation.

  • DHL rides on Fifa fever with its own World Cup

    DHL rides on Fifa fever with its own World Cup

    MUMBAI: In keeping with the soccer fever with the Fifa World Cup just days away, DHL is all set to launch an international soccer tournament in Germany from 16 to 19 June.

    This tournament, organized by Deutsche Post World Net (DPWN), DHL’s parent company, will be held in Bispinger Heide, near Hamburg, Germany. It will consist of 2,500 DPWN staff and 24 teams from around the world – all competing to be crowned as DPWN World Champions.

    DPWN has operations in more than 220 countries and territories and the tournament will feature teams from regions from around the globe. The 24 final-round teams are from Europe, Americas, Asia Pacific, emerging market countries, as well as host country Germany.

    Employees ranging from board members to couriers were selected from all DHL business units – Express, Global Forwarding, Exel Supply Chain and Global Mail.

    The primary goal of this event is to make an emotional contribution to strengthening the feeling of unity within the group. “We strongly believe that the most prized asset in our organisation is our employees. This event is an excellent opportunity to bring our people together in the spirit of camaraderie and teamwork – a key element of DHL’s success stories worldwide,” said DHL Express – Asia Pacific CEO Scott Price.

    “This is also an excellent opportunity for our representatives in different countries to get to know each other better, fostering goodwill through an exciting tournament,” he added.

    Besides the five football squads who will be participating from Asia Pacific, there will also be five cheerleading teams from this region who will conduct their own competition parallel to the soccer tournament.

    FIFA Organising Committee president Franz Beckenbauer will have a special message for participants at the opening ceremony of the competition. The kick-off event will be moderated by René Hiepen, a sports reporter with Germany’s public ZDF television network and member of the ZDF team of moderators for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

    Highlights of the program include the live appearance of Elli, winner of the TV show Germany Seeks a Superstar and the voice of the current DPWN group song, as well as “Band on the Run,” a brass band made up of DHL Norway employees, and soccer artist “Jacek,” a DHL staff with mesmerizing ball skills. Long-time FIFA referee Walter Eschweiler will officiate at the group championship game on 18 June.

  • Crutchfield develops website ahead of Fifa for Spaniards

    Crutchfield develops website ahead of Fifa for Spaniards

    MUMBAI: The integrated marketers of consumer electronic productsCrutchfield is on a full-speed breakaway towards 2006 Fifa World Cup Germany. Crutchfield is in the process to develop its Spanish-language website at http://www.crutchfieldenespanol.com to ensure that its Spanish-speaking customers will be able to enjoy the World Cup games in HDTV.

    Soccer remains the world’s favorite sport, played by over 240 million players on 1.4 million teams throughout the world. Bigger than the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics, this year’s World Cup will be the most-watched sporting event in the world, and for the first time it will be aired in high definition in the United States.

    With more than 40 million Spanish-speaking people living in the United States, including some of the most knowledgeable and dedicated soccer fans in the world, US viewership of this year’s World Cup is expected to reach record numbers, informs an official release.

    This year, with the games being broadcast in high-definition for the first time on ABC, ESPN HD, and ESPN2 HD, millions of soccer fans here in America will be able to watch every minute of their premier event unfold in unparalleled viewing quality.

    The Fifa World Cup has the biggest television audience of any sports event in the world. During World Cup 2002, a cumulative audience of over 1 billion people in 215 countries watched the matches. The estimated cumulative audience for the 2006 event is expected to be in excess of 32 billion hours of television viewing. Millions of those expected viewers will be Spanish-speaking fans in the US.

    “According to the Consumer Electronics Association, nearly 50 per cent of HDTV buyers cite high-definition sports programming as their primary motivation for upgrading their old analog television to an HDTV,” said Crutchfield senior home audio/video editor Steve Kindig. “Major sporting events like the Olympics and the Super Bowl present perfect opportunities to get the latest in viewing technology, and with the upcoming World Cup games to be broadcast in high-def for the first time, Crutchfield is stocking up on some of the best HDTVs on the market.”

    Shopping for a new HDTV is now even easier with Crutchfield’s own TV Fit Finder. The TV Fit Finder, available through Crutchfield.com and Crutchfieldenespanol.com, enables consumers seeking a new television to quickly and easily identify every television that will fit within their existing entertainment center.

    “Crutchfield’s Spanish-speaking Sales Advisors, who are available by phone, email, and online chat, will ensure that customers buy the right HDTV for his or her needs, and that the HDTV is in their home, installed, working properly, and delivering HD-quality colors and realistic images well in advance of the June 9, 2006 start. Acting now will ensure that on game day your favorite striker will be captured in ‘striking’ detail,” Kindig added.

  • Discovery Channel to premier series ‘More Than A Game’ on World Cup

    Discovery Channel to premier series ‘More Than A Game’ on World Cup

    MUMBAI:Starting 28 April, Discovery Channel is set to premiere six-part series More Than a Game, which will chronicle the emergence of international football’s greatest teams and players interwoven with the story of how the World Cup evolved as a tournament and shaped the nature of football worldwide.

    This series will air every Friday at 9 pm and each episode will be repeated on the following Saturday at 10 am.

    More Than A Game will feature the six giants of the game – Brazil, Germany, France, England, Argentina and Italy.

    The football World Cup has evolved into a cultural event that unites the entire world for one exhilarating and unforgettable month. More than just a sporting extravaganza, it has impacted the economy of countries and their presence on the global map, informs an official release.

    Made in collaboration with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and featuring exclusive footage from FIFA’s film archive and recollections from some of the world’s greatest players including Beckham, Beckenbauer, Zidane, Platini and Zoff, the show will present the definitive account of the World Cup – its glorious goals, legendary players, fanatical fans and enduring appeal.

    The release also adds that with previously unseen footage from matches dating back over 40 years, viewers will get a fresh perspective on even the most familiar football legends. They will also witness how winning or losing a game can change the fortunes of a nation.

    Discovery Channel’s spokesperson said, “More Than A Game showcases how the World Cup has been a carnival of innovation, advancing both the game and the business of football. It presents the fascinating account of the extraordinary brilliance and the gallant failures of the superpowers of world football. Identifying and capturing the defining moments of the football World Cup is what makes More Than A Game so captivating.”

    The Ambassador of Brazil, His Excellency Jose Vicente Pimentel said “I am delighted to be part of this special programme by Discovery Channel which will provide the football enthusiasts in India an insight into the history of the World Cup. Each of the six nations covered in the programme represent football in its truest form. Each episode will give viewers an insight into the various manifestations of the sport and how single-handedly football can bind an entire nation.”

    MORE THAN A GAME programme schedule:
    • Brazil on 28 April at 9 pm
    The World Cup has defined Brazil as a nation. The five-time winners have given the world legends like Pele, Carlos Alberto, Tostao, Socrates and Ronaldo. In this episode, you can also watch 17-year-old Pele leading the Brazilian charge to their first World Cup win in 1958 and then taking it to the event to its greatest height: the superlative final of 1970.

    • Argentina on 5 May at 9 pm
    Argentina’s Diego Maradona became the biggest football star since Pele. Never has one man so dominated the World Cup. But after the bravura and brilliance of 1986, it has all been downhill for Maradona. His well-publicised descent into drug addiction and psychological deterioration mark a sad end to an incredible career. Also see the memorable celebrations in Buenos Aires in 1978 after Argentina won against a background of intimidation and corruption with a military junta governing the country.

    • England on 12 May at 9 pm
    The British boycotted the World Cup till 1950 and have won it only once – in 1966. They were the first nation to win as hosts. With a passionate (and infamous) fan base and the superstar status of their players, it has always shared a love-hate relationship with the sport they invented. Their story of the World Cup ranges from disaster to gallant failure.

    • Germany on 19 May at 9 pm
    It’s hard to imagine a time when Germany was not a footballing superpower. But in the 1954 final, they were definitely the underdogs against the talented Hungarians. An extraordinary comeback set the foundations for future dominance, and till now they remain one of the most difficult sides to overcome. Watch how the World Cup has helped Germany to emerge as one of the leading nations in world football.

    • Italy on 26 May at 9 pm
    Paolo Rossi’s hat-trick helped Italy beat Brazil 3-2 in one of the greatest World Cup games. Their World Cup victory in 1982 ended a fifty-two year wait for their demanding supporters. The famous Azzuri are characterised by their stubborn, defensive approach that has, according to their critics, overshadowed the beauty of their game. They have, however, won the World cup three times and those who underestimate them, do so at their own peril.

    • France on 2 June at 9 pm
    The 1998 World Champions had included 15 squad players from different ethnic backgrounds embodied by Zidane, Desailly and Lizarazu. As the most racially troubled country in Europe, France was divided by the question of immigration. The multiracial make up of the French national team was openly criticised till their stunning 3-0 victory over favourites Brazil, which led to four days of euphoric celebrations across the nation. The win also summed the international nature of a sport which is More Than A Game.

  • FremantleMedia strikes deals with German broadcasters

    FremantleMedia strikes deals with German broadcasters

    CANNES: The distribution arm of global production company FremantleMedia, Fremantle International Distribution (FID), unveiled at MipTV a diverse range of programme sales to German broadcasters. It was announced by FID managing director David Ellender.

    Ellender said:”We are very pleased to announce this latest raft of sales in Germany. The diversity of our programming translates into broad appeal for the different networks and Veronika Gracher has worked closely with the German broadcasters to ensure that FID can meet their needs. These latest deals are testament to the enduring strength of our factual and drama catalogues.”

    The sales, brokered be FID VP Sales German Speaking Europe & Eastern Europe Veronika Gracher, include the acquisition of Munich: The Real Assassins (1 x 1 hour) by Discovery Europe (German-speaking Europe).

    This documentary looks back at the events of September 1972, when, at the Munich Olympics before the eyes of millions of television viewers, 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by Black September, a radical group within the PLO. It features testimonies never heard before from Mossad agents who carried out Israel’s bloody revenge to reveal the true story behind the most incredible government-sponsored mission in the history of the War on Terror.

    In a further agreement, History of Football: The Beautiful Game (13 x 1 hour) will be broadcast on Germany’s History Channel to coincide with World Cup fever. Narrated by Terrance Stamp, this series tells the definitive story of the game that generates more excitement, passion and wealth across the world than any other sport.

    Other German deals will see crime drama Homicide (55 x 1 hour) will air on AXN, while Sex In The Bush: Australian Animal Attraction (2 x 1 hour) will be seen on Arte (Germany / France). This series combines stunning footage with amazing and sometimes shocking stories from passionate wildlife experts on the subject of courtship and reproduction among the animal kingdom in Australia – where the truth really is stranger than fiction.

  • BBC to show World Cup, Wimbledon in high definition

    BBC to show World Cup, Wimbledon in high definition

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC has announced that it will broadcast its 2006 World Cup coverage and major Wimbledon matches in high definition (HD) as part of its pioneering trial.

    The BBC HD trial will kick off with the BBC’s share of World Cup matches up to and including the 9 July 2006 final. World Cup 2006 will be the first major sporting event to be broadcast in HD in the UK. The BBC’s summer of HD sport will continue with Wimbledon matches from Centre Court and Court One.

    The BBC explains that HD is a new kind of television which delivers more detailed pictures and sharper shots of fast-moving action than conventional ‘standard definition’. The HD format will be an extra stream alongside conventional analogue and digital broadcasts.

    It will only be accessible to viewers who have all of the following: HD Ready televisions, HD set top boxes and HD services from satellite or cable providers. News about the World Cup and Wimbledon in HD follows finalisation of the technical and partnership arrangements for the trial.

    The BBC’s HD trial will last for about 12 months. It will enable the BBC to test technical delivery of HD and to understand how the audience values a BBC HD service. Any ongoing BBC HD service will be subject to approval by the BBC Trust.

    BBC director of sport Roger Mosey said, “High definition works particularly well for sport. It gives fantastic picture quality, from the blades of grass that are being played on right to the back of the stands, and although only limited numbers of people will be able to see this trial we hope it will be a glimpse of the future.”

    BBC HD TV head Seetha Kumar said, “We believe that in the long term the BBC can help provide the benefits of HD to everyone, free to air, in the same way that we backed colour, stereo, widescreen and online in the past. With this trial, the BBC is taking the first crucial steps to support the development of HD broadcasting in the UK.”

    BBC HD will start broadcasting on 15 May with a test stream previewing forthcoming programmes. The first live HD programme will be the opening World Cup match Germany Vs Costa Rica on 9 June.

    BBC commentary and studio coverage in HD will wrap up the HD feed from German host broadcasters HBS (Host Broadcaster Services). Standard definition digital and analogue BBC One coverage will also draw on high definition images, both for the World Cup and for Wimbledon where the BBC is the host broadcaster.

    The BBC HD trial will run for about a year. It will feature BBC shows such as natural history series Planet Earth and Galapagos, drama documentary Hannibal and some BBC Proms concerts including the First and Last Nights, in HD quality.

    The amount of new programming each day will vary, averaging between one and two hours. Some programmes will be simulcast with BBC One or, in a few instances, BBC Two.

    Others will be time-shifted or offer another chance to view past highlights such as dramas Bleak House and Hotel Babylon in high definition for the first time.

    The BBC will provide its HD trial stream on all technically capable platforms, including satellite and cable, once available, from commercial providers. It is not currently possible to provide HD transmissions on Freeview because of limited space on the airwaves. The BBC will run a simultaneous technical trial of HD on digital terrestrial television (Freeview). That trial will be confined to few hundred trial households in London, which will be chosen shortly.

    Freeview could accommodate some high definition broadcasting after switchover between 2008 and 2012. Ofcom’s Digital Dividend Review later this year is deciding how that spectrum should be used.