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Host Broadcast Services (HBS) “Sport and HDTV in 2006”

Francis Tellier , CEO Brussels, Dec. 17, 2004 Host Broadcast Services (HBS) “Sport and HDTV in 2006” Sport and HDTV in 2006 Host Broadcast Services 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany ™ produced in HDTV Status of other major events Costs vs. benefits Conclusions

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Host Broadcast Services (HBS) “Sport and HDTV in 2006”

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  1. Francis Tellier, CEO Brussels, Dec. 17, 2004 Host Broadcast Services(HBS)“Sport and HDTV in 2006”

  2. Sport and HDTV in 2006 • Host Broadcast Services • 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ produced in HDTV • Status of other major events • Costs vs. benefits • Conclusions

  3. The Role of the Host Broadcaster, e.g. for FIFA World Cups™ • To organise a FIFA World Cup™ TV and Radio operations • To produce the multilateral coverage of all 64 matches a FIFA World Cup™ for Broadcast Partners (BPs) • To provide Broadcast Partners with all production facilities for their specific additional coverage: all broadcasters have specific needs • To design, build and operate the International Broadcast Centre (IBC)

  4. Key HBS Figures from Korea & Japan • 2800 staff members, from 65 different nations • In 2 Host Countries, 20 stadiums, with 2 IBCs • 10 separate feeds produced for each match • 850 tons of equipment imported in to / out of Korea & Japan • Over 300 multilateral cameras • 1000 commentary units • 1st ever fully digital FIFA World Cup™

  5. HBS Today • International and… neutral; Headquarters in Switzerland • Planning Centre in France • Wholly owned subsidiary of Infront Sports & Media • CEO: Francis Tellier • “Accordion company”: currently, 40 employees • HBS staffing will rise to 2,000 during the FIFA World Cup Germany™ operational period • Contracted as Host Broadcaster of the 15th edition of Asian Games - Doha 2006 - in 50/50 JV with TWI (DAGBS)

  6. Television Structure

  7. HBS Production Plan for FIFA WC™ 2006 • Match coverage: The “Dream Team” concept • Sportel Golden Podium Award in 2002 • One major breakthrough: Widescreen HDTV • Multi-channel “surround “ sound • Multi Feeds production concept, further enhanced • Including a “complete turnkey programme” for World Feed distribution

  8. Major breakthrough for 2006: Widescreen High Definition TV (HDTV) • HBS will deliver all 64 matches in Widescreen (16/9) HDTV Digital format • With a minimum of 23 Widescreen HDTV cameras • To be compared with only 48 matches / 8 cameras in Korea & Japan • with separate SD/HD production facilities

  9. Widescreen HDTV: Why ? • The standing of the FIFA World Cup™ calls for a leading edge production • The trade off “technical” vs “production” quality has disappeared • HDTV is already strongly established in Japan, Korea and in the USA • The trend towards Widescreen and HDTV is rapidly growing in Europe, • 16/9 Widescreen TV sets now priced the same as 4/3 sets • In UK, more than 1 out of 2 households to be Widescreen by 2006 • Many flat screens / TV projectors already offer HD quality (HD label introduced to help consumers) • HDTV will be started by leading channels / platforms by 2006 (BSkyB, Premiere, TF1, who’s to be next ?)

  10. Widescreen HDTV: How ? • One single production unit for HD and SD, as all necessary facilities (cameras, slo-mos, super slo-mos,…) are now available in HD • Main technical set-up designed by HBS in 2003, after complete feasibility study • First announcement made in Dec. 2003 in Frankfurt • Support from the industry granted - all OB vans already contracted by HBS • Broadcasters have the choice to broadcast 16/9 or 4/3 • 4/3 framing protected and graphics designed to be 4/3 safe • Extensive tests and training from 2004 to 2006

  11. General Multilateral Camera Placement • 23 cameras + 2 for the Playercam A and B feeds

  12. 16/9 to 4/3 – Aspect Ratio Conversion • 16/9 coverage can easily be converted to 4/3 using Aspect Ratio Conversion (ARC) • Multiple options available for presentation of 16/9 format on a 4/3 monitor • “Letterbox” • “Pillar-box” (vertical crop) • All possibilities in between available to Broadcast Partners • Broadcasters responsible for ARC-ing the 16/9 feed according to their specific preference • HBS will not provide 4/3 feeds

  13. Shoot and Protect Safe Areas

  14. At the Camera

  15. Status of Other Major Events: Olympics • At the Athens Olympics, several sports produced in HDTV by a consortium of broadcasters • Athletics, Swimming, Gymnastics, Judo and Ceremonies • On top of the « regular SD production » • Probably the last « double production » • Broadcast mostly in Japan and the USA • Torino 2006 • HD will be the primary coverage for several sports, such as • Ice hockey, ice skating, ski jumping, ceremonies • Other sports covered in SD • Beijing 2008, announced to be HDTV, with possibly a few exceptions

  16. Latest announcements on HDTVfor other Major Events • FIFA Confederations’ Cup (Germany 2005) will be used as test and demonstration for HDTV by HBS • UEFA Euro • Last minute decision for Euro 2004, no broadcast in HD or widescreen • Euro 2008 (Austria / Switzerland) requested to be HDTV by UEFA • Rugby World Cup • RWC 2007 (France +…) requested to be HDTV by IRB • Asian Games • Doha Asian Games 2006 to be HDTV for the top sports • NASCAR races • Will be HD from next season, except for on-board cameras

  17. Is HDTV More Expensive ? • Over costs of technical equipment in the range of 30%, expected to further decrease • No real over costs for staff, except for specific training (esp. for 16/9 and 4/3 compatibility) • At the time being, over costs of approx. 20% for regular production • Can be less for major events, due to specific equipment deals • One question mark: telecommunication costs, major differences according to existing infrastructures, no real problem when extensive fibre networks

  18. Costs vs. Benefits • When HDTV is requested, single production is far cheaper than double production • Even when separate HD production standards are lower • For major events, over costs are compensated by: • Additional value of the rights, at the time being, essentially in Japan / USA • Greater value / longer lifetime of archives material • New opportunities for large screen viewing, either in “open air”, or in “movie houses”

  19. Conclusions • The most efficient way to produce HDTV today is through “single (or primary) coverage” • Still restrictions for « wireless events », e.g. le Tour de France… • Over costs compensated by additional value • HD delivers an important « by product »: a Widescreen feed, much appreciated e.g. in UK • Today, for major sport events, HDTV is already: • A must for Japan • Important for the USA, Korea, Australia • And tomorrow for Europe… • All future major sport events to be HDTV / Regular leagues to catch up progressively • Major events have been a major trigger for consumers in the past... • Latest news for Germany 2006: Premiere will broadcast all Matches in HDTV !… • An opportunity for Germany to lead the HD European pack ?

  20. Thank You For Your Attention ! • By the way, did you know ? 1 = 15,000 1 match seen by 1 stadium fan = 15,000 TV audience hits worldwide www.hostbroadcastservices.com

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