World Cup 2010 in 3D TV
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AFP World Cup 2010 in 3D TV Testing new technology AFP The 2010 FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup, hosted by South Africa from 11 June to 11 July, was the fi rst World Cup tournament to be held on African soil, and the fi rst time that matches were produced in three-dimensional television (3D TV). It was also the fi rst time Spain won the world trophy. As one of the most popular sporting events in the world, the World Cup is watched by billions of people, thanks to the standards (“Recommendations”) for television formats South Africa’s former President Nelson agreed in ITU’s Radiocommunication Sector (ITU–R). These Mandela waves as he arrives to attend the 2010 World Cup football fi nal have made possible digital television and high-defi nition tel- between the Netherlands and Spain evision (HDTV). According to a recent ITU report, by the end on 11 July 2010 at the Soccer City of 2009, there were some 1.4 billion households around the stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg. At world with a television, providing some fi ve billion people ac- the opening ceremony, FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter; South African cess to a television at home. President Jacob Zuma; and 1984 Nobel FIFA estimates that a cumulative audience of more than Peace Prize Winner Archbishop Emeritus 26 billion people tuned in to watch the 64 matches of the Desmond Tutu praised Mandela for his invaluable contribution to nation- tournament in the rainbow nation. All matches were transmit- building, and for throwing his support ted in HDTV, and some 25 matches (see Table 1 on page 56) behind hosting the World Cup in Africa. were even broadcast using next-generation 3D technology as 54 ITU News 6 | 2010 July | August 2010 A Sppanish fan plp aayyiinng a VuVuvuv zez la, thehe nooise- makingg hororn off Soouuthth Affrriiccaann foootbt alall faf ns tht att hass comome too symymbobolilizzee thih s sps oro t inn ththe ccounntry anand ththe 22001100 Wororldl Cuupp AFP the result of a media rights agreement between FIFA and Sony Corporation of Japan, which was announced in December AFP 2009. Sony’s broadcasting equipment for 3D was in use at fi ve stadiums: Soccer City and Ellis Park in Johannesburg and the venues in Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. ITU and 3D TV But how does 3D technology work? And what challenges remain when it comes to ensuring that 3D TV transmission systems and sets are globally compatible and interoperable? Three-dimensional imaging applies knowledge about the way humans see things. In contrast to 2D video, 3D video more closely resembles the way people sense space in real life. The predictions of Paul, The current technique applied for 3D TV is called stereos- the Octopus copy; it creates a feeling of depth by showing slightly differ- ent pictures to each eye. Each eye's picture appears on the A surprising star of the World Cup 3D TV screen, one after the other. Images are sent to each was Paul the Octopus — a creature housed at the Oberhausen Sea Life eye at a rate of around 50–60 images per second, making the centre in Germany. It accurately process imperceptible to the viewer. Special glasses make sure “predicted” the outcome of every each eye gets the picture intended for it. match played by Germany in South Africa, and also picked Spain as the To ensure that 3D TV sets made by different manufactur- World Cup winner. ers will work anywhere in the world, so that consumers can buy with confi dence, ITU–R Study Group 6 (which examines broadcasting services) brings experts together to develop and ITU News 6 | 2010 July | August 2010 55 Table 1 — Matches reportedly broadcast in 3D 11 June South Africa versus Mexico 12 June Argentina versus Nigeria 13 June Germany versus Australia 14 June Netherlands versus Denmark AFP 15 June Brazil versus People’s Democratic Republic of Korea 16 June Spain versus Switzerland 17 June Argentina versus Republic of Korea 18 June Slovenia versus United States 19 June Netherlands versus Japan to have different views within a three-dimensional 20 June Brazil versus Côte d’Ivoire space. Recognizing that radiocommunication broadcast- 21 June Spain versus Honduras ing extends from the production of programmes 22 June Nigeria versus Republic of Korea to their delivery to the general public, ITU–R Study 23 June Ghana versus Germany Group 6 studies those aspects related to production 24 June Slovakia versus Italy and radiocommunication end-to-end, including the 25 June Portugal versus Brazil international exchange of programmes as well as the 27 June Winners of Group B versus Runner up in Group A overall quality of service. 28 June Winners of Group E versus Runner up in Group F 28 June Winners of Group G versus Runner up in Group H A new dimension from the stadium 2 July Quarter fi nal From the opening match on 11 June between 3 July Quarter fi nal South Africa’s national football team Bafana Bafana 3 July Quarter fi nal and Mexico (a match which ended in a 1–1 draw) to 6 July Semi fi nal the fi nal, with Spain’s 0–1 extra-time win over the 7 July Semi fi nal Netherlands, the matches shot in 3D were intended 10 July 3rd place play-off to offer viewers “as-if-you-were-there” excitement. 11 July World Cup fi nal However, not many people were equipped to watch these matches in 3D. At the time of writing this article, statistics for 3D viewers were not avail- agree on common global standards for 3D TV broad- able. 3D TV still requires glasses for viewing, which casting. Furthermore, ITU–R Study Group 6 is study- may have put off potential viewers. The circular po- ing advanced concepts for 3D television that would larized glasses are mainly used in cinemas and are not allow an even more realistic 3D impression, without considered suitable for home use because of the high the need for glasses, and that would allow people cost of the special screens and projectors required. 56 ITU News 6 | 2010 July | August 2010 World Cup 2010 in 3D TV So most television manufacturers are focusing on ac- Mr Dosch explains that “the art of making stere- tive LCD shutter glasses. oscopic fi lms is well known to Hollywood, where In the United States, the cable sports network stereographers (a new profession!) tell the fi lm direc- ESPN launched its fi rst dedicated 3D channel “ESPN tor and the cameraman how to adjust the camera 3D” with a stereoscopic 3D broadcast of the open- rig for each scene, how to do camera pans and how ing match. Spain’s Sogecable, Japan’s Sky PerfecTV to model the continuation of the content between and the Republic of Korea’s SBS were among the subsequent sequences. The predetermination of the other networks confi rmed to broadcast matches in settings of each scene is less possible in live shoot- 3D. In some cities in Australia, viewers could watch ing.” He adds that “consequently, some viewers of matches on a special 3D trial channel co-launched the 3D football television programmes experienced by SBS and Channel 9. Generally, in countries where eye discomfort after extended periods of viewing. matches were broadcast in 3D and households were The stereoscopic signals from South Africa were a not equipped for 3D viewing, people had to go to good testbed in view of future day-to-day opera- cinema halls or other designated spots. tion of stereo 3D. But many problems still need to be One lesson from the 2010 World Cup is that solved. And ITU–R Study Group 6 is tackling some of “great care needs to be taken in the production these problems.” and delivery of 3D TV, especially for live transmis- Recalling ITU–R’s track record for agreeing sions,” says Christoph Dosch, Chairman of ITU–R standards for television formats, David Wood of Study Group 6 and General Manager of Collaborative the European Broadcasting Union in Geneva and Research at the Institut für Rundfunktechnik GmbH Chairman of ITU–R Working Party 6C (on Programme (IRT) in Munich, Germany. production and quality assessment) comments that: AFP ITU News 6 | 2010 July | August 2010 57 AFP "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" The 2010 FIFA World Cup kick-off Celebration Concert, held at Soweto’s Orlando stadium on 10 June was broadcast across the world and showcased the talents of African and international musicians. The stadium was awash with fl ags from the 32 countries whose national teams had qualifi ed for the tournament. The concert began with a local fl avour as dancers and drummers set the rhythm, followed by music that included a rendition of the late Miriam Makeba’s international hit "Pata Pata". The international line-up included Colombian pop star Shakira, who performed the offi cial song of the 2010 World Cup "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" with South African band Freshlyground. She performed this song again at the closing ceremony (pictured here in the centre), which was broadcast live to an estimated audience of over 500 million viewers, according to FIFA. “Everyone wins with common standards, and it Meanwhile, Analysys Mason, a market adviser on would be great if we could also agree on common telecommunications, technology and media, points standards in the area of 3D TV.” Mr Wood notes that to the high cost of 3D TV sets, long television re- whether it becomes ubiquitous or just used for spe- placement cycles and lack of 3D content as barriers cial events, 3D TV is more likely to succeed if it is to rapid growth.