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It¡¯s no more than 20 days from the World Cup 2006, when fans will be able to make use of the latest digital media technology to experience the action in almost total immersion. With cutting-edge technologies like HDTV and digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) becoming part of everyday life, broadcasters will take full advantage of the new wizardry.
The most eye- (or ear-) catching service is a Dolby 5.1 channel World Cup broadcast being attempted for the first time. SBS will pick up broadcast data for the events in 5.1 channel sound and relay it to viewers at home for the best surround-sound experience yet. Those with a 5.1 channel Dolby home theater setup are assured to feel like they are on the pitch themselves, making the experience the closest you can get to a "home stadium.¡±
The head of the SBS technology department, Ahn Gyeong-hwan says, "Some 40-50 microphones spaced all across the stadium will pick up and relay three-dimensional sound that will even make it possible to clearly hear the sound of a player passing the ball." Including the opening ceremony, KBS will broadcast all official matches in Dolby 5.1 for the Seoul Metropolitan area. Skylife's pay HDTV channel, Sky HDTV, also plans to offer live broadcasts of all 64 matches in Dolby 5.1 HDTV.
MBC plans to produce all its World Cup coverage in HD. The broadcaster will produce programs on friendship, fair play and spectator showcases in HD and show the shorts during halftime or as part of the highlights in an attempt to diversify coverage. Commentators will be able to indicate the athlete's position on the screen and move them using a dragging technique to show the goal scene. The ratings of athletes by Netizens will also be shown in real time.
This is also the year when broadcasting of games to DMB-equipped handheld devices will make history. Satellite DMB broadcaster TU Media will be covering a cheering event to go along with its game coverage. The three terrestrial broadcasters¡¯ joint broadcast rights negotiator, Korea Pool, has finalized the DMB broadcasting rights with the marketing arm of FIFA, Infront.
Corresponding with the World Cup, cable TV is offering limited-time two-way data broadcasting services for digital TV subscribers. That lets subscribers not merely watch coverage but also register their bets who will win, enter picture contests and relay support messages, all in real-time.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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