Feature: Page (1) of 1 - 06/12/06

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FIFA World Cup by the Numbers First all HDTV broadcast of the games By Stephen Schleicher

With billions expected to watch the event world wide, a staggering number of equipment and crew are needed to ensure a smooth broadcast.  The media nerve center for the 2006 FIFA World cup originates from the International Broadcast center in Munich, Germany.  This 30,000 square meter broadcast center will gather the signals from all over the German countryside and feed the signal to the broadcasters.  All of this work is being done by Host Broadcast Services (HBS).

What makes this year?s FIFA World Cup unique is this will be the first time that every match will be broadcast in 16:9 HDTV.  ?What seemed radical in 2003 has emerged as a clear trend,? said Dominik Schmid, Head of the FIFA Project for Infront Sports & Media, owner of HBS. ?When HBS first considered the use of HDTV production facilities, it was not obvious that the application of this advanced standard would evolve as fast as it has. Now, it is almost certain that HDTV will be the future standard in television. FIFA is yet again at the forefront.?

Unlike the NFL Superbowl which relies on one director for the game, HBS has selected a ?Dream Team? of the world?s best football directors and their crew to handle the events at the 12 different match locations.

François-Charles Bideux
One of the most respected football directors in France, François-Charles has over 20 years experience directing matches. He has worked extensively at all levels of football, including the French domestic league, UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League. In addition, he covered 13 matches of France 98 and four years later was one of the seven directors appointed by HBS to cover the 2002 World Cup Korea/Japan.

Knut Fleischmann
Knut has been working as a director of sports and entertainment shows since 1993 and has covered Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and the UEFA Champions League for German broadcasters SAT 1, ARD and Premiere. In 2005 Knut was appointed by HBS as one of the directors of the FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany.

François Lanaud
One of France?s best known sports directors, François has been involved in many mayor sporting events, including two Olympic Games, the French F1 Grand Prix and two FIFA World Cups?. In 1998, François was one of the directors for TVRS98, the Host Broadcaster of France 98, and received the ?Golden Camera Award? for his coverage.

Jamie Oakford
Jamie Oakford has been involved with ITV Sport since 1996 and has become one of the UK?s most experienced football directors. His football credits for ITV include the Premiership, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League host broadcasts at numerous UK grounds, five European Football Championships and four FIFA World Cup Finals

Wolfgang Straub
Over the last ten years Wolfgang has been involved in major sports coverage for German television. In 2002 HBS appointed Wolfgang as one of the directors for the FIFA World Cup? in Korea/Japan and in 2005 he again worked for HBS, covering the FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany.

John Watts
One of the UK?s most experienced outside broadcast directors, John has directed the host coverage of a multitude of big sporting events including over seventy world title fights and two Rugby World Cup Finals. His extensive football credits include five FA Cup Finals, five League Cup Finals, a UEFA Cup Final and ten consecutive seasons of the UEFA Champions League, including the finals in 2002 and 2003.

2006 FIFA World Cup by the numbers:

Pool Feed for Broadcasters	1
Number of Directors	6
PanAmSats used to send HD signal worldwide	9
Cities hosting matches	12
Panels on current FIFA football	14
Distinct feeds produced by HBS per match	16
Outside Broadcast Vans	20
HD Cameras used to cover each match (per stadium)	25
Microphones covering each match	25
Length of event (days)	31
Nations participating	32
Match officials	33
Number of matches broadcast in HD for 2002 FIFA World Cup	48
Interview studios	50
Total matches played	64
Number of matches broadcast in HD for 2006 FIFA World Cup	64
Presentation studios	70
Number of Fujinon HD Lenses deployed	100
Worldwide Broadcasters	180
Players	736
Length of audio/video cabling	750 km
Unilateral camera positions	800
Length of cabling in total for 12 venues	1300 km
First year of the FIFA World Cup	1930
Commentary positions	2000
HBS staff to produce content	2000
Hours of feeds produced	2200
Estimated number of press on scene	15000
Estimated number of network connections	45000
Expected visitors per game	40000 - 60000
RFID embedded tickets	3.5 million
Cost to sponsor the games	$30 to $50 million
Estimated cost of voice and data network deployed by Avaya	$100 million
Viewers expected to watch the games	5 billion

For more information on Host Broadcast Services, visit www.hostbroadcastservices.com. 

If you are in the United State of America, you can view the FIFA World Cup on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2.

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