FIFA World Cup 2018: all matches to be produced in UHD/HDR in landmark move

In line with its long history of technology firsts, FIFA will again push the boundaries of sports broadcast at the 2018 World Cup Russia. As part of efforts to remain at the forefront of the industry, all sixty-four matches will be produced in Ultra High Definition with High Dynamic Range for the first time ever. Thanks to a hybrid UHD/HDR/1080p setup multiple choice of video formats will be available (1080i, 1080p or UHD HDR) at the back of one single production chain.

The use of progressive scanning as a baseline production format and HDR will guarantee improved image quality for all media rights licensees, regardless of their delivery format.

Thirty-seven cameras, of which eight with UHD/HDR and 1080p/SDR dual output, and another eight with 1080p/HDR and 1080p/SDR dual output, will cover every match. Further eight Super-slow-motion and two Ultra-motion cameras, a cable-cam and a cineflex heli-cam, will ensure high-class pictures will be available from every angle in each stadium.

The UHD programme will benefit from its own wider-framed main camera along with the addition of immersive audio, offering the UHD/HDR viewer a far richer experience than ever before.

Building on the success of the multimedia production at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, the digital production and services offering will now be an integrated part of the overall production plan. As a true innovation, fans will also be able to follow the matches in Virtual Reality (VR). Available as a live experience and as 360° video on demand (VoD), this new feature will put the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia into the heart of digital innovation.