AFP

World Cup 2010 in 3D TV

Testing new technology AFP

The 2010 FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup, hosted by 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, 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 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 (IRT) Research atthe Study Group 6andGeneral ManagerofCollaborative sions,” saysChristophDosch,ChairmanofITU–R and deliveryof3DTV, especiallyforlivetransmis- “great care needstobetakenintheproduction cinema hallsorotherdesignatedspots. not equippedfor3Dviewing,peoplehadtogo matches were broadcast in3Dandhouseholdswere by SBSandChannel9.Generally, incountrieswhere matches onaspecial3Dtrialchannelco-launched 3D. InsomecitiesinAustralia, viewerscouldwatch other networkscon and theRepublicofKorea’s SBSwere amongthe ing match.Spain’s Sogecable,Japan’s SkyPerfecTV 3D” withastereoscopic 3Dbroadcast oftheopen- ESPN launchedits tive LCD shutterglasses. So mosttelevisionmanufacturers are focusingonac- One lessonfrom the2010World Cup isthat In theUnitedStates, thecablesportsnetwork inMunich,Germany. Institut fürRundfunktechnikGmbH fi rst dedicated3Dchannel“ESPN fi rmed tobroadcast matchesin World Cup 2010in3DTV production andqualityassessment)commentsthat: Chairman ofITU–RWorking Party 6C(onProgramme the European Broadcasting UnioninGenevaand standards fortelevisionformats,DavidWood of these problems.” solved. AndITU–RStudy Group 6istacklingsomeof tion ofstereo 3D.Butmanyproblems stillneedtobe good testbedinviewoffuture day-to-dayopera- The stereoscopic signalsfrom SouthAfricawere a eye discomfortafterextendedperiodsofviewing. the 3Dfootballtelevisionprogrammes experienced ing.” Headdsthat“consequently, someviewersof settings ofeachsceneislesspossibleinliveshoot- subsequent sequences.Thepredetermination ofthe to modelthecontinuationofcontentbetween rig foreachscene,howtodocamera pansandhow tor andthecameraman howtoadjustthecamera stereographers (anewprofession!) tellthe oscopic Recalling ITU–R’s track record foragreeing Mr Doschexplainsthat“theartofmakingstere- fi lms iswellknowntoHollywood, where ITU News  6 |2010  July | August 2010 July |August fi lmdirec- 57

AFP 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 ’s international hit "Pata Pata". The international line-up included Colombian pop star , 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. The fi rm adds that “aside from con- based on common standards — but will lose if the sumer reluctance to wear glasses, signifi cant barri- marketplace is fragmented. ers still need to be overcome before 3D TV becomes a mass market proposition. It says that “competing Growth prospects for 3D TV formats and technologies mean consumers may be In a study published at the end of June 2010 when unwilling to invest in a 3D TV until they know which the football tournament had reached its half-way will become the prevailing standard”. mark, IMS Research observed that many consumer Mr Dosch also notes that “at present, the number equipment suppliers are deploying strategies that will of alternative implementations of 3D TV is still large. bring more 3D devices into our homes. IMS Research And of course, as usual, everyone wants a common estimates that 5.99 million 3D TV sets will be shipped standard — as long as it is theirs.” Hopefully, by the worldwide in 2010 and that over 218 million will be time of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the stand- shipped cumulatively from now until 2015. ardization work under way in ITU–R Study Group 6 would have given birth to a common standard. This would help boost the uptake of 3D TV across the world.

58 ITU News  6 | 2010  July | August 2010