New Zealand's Sky TV secured the rights to next year's FIFA World Cup. The pay-TV network has locked up the major prize of world football, "the second-most watchted sporting event in the world." Sky will "broadcast the World Cup alongside TVNZ, as a free-to-air partner, for the fourth tournament in a row" (APNZ, 7/5). ... German public broadcaster ZDF will offer live TV broadcasts and extensive online coverage from the UEFA Women's Euro 2013 in Sweden, which will start on Wednesday and runs through July 28. The ZDF will accompany the German national team in its mission to defend its Euro title. On Thurday, ZDF will live broadcast the German team's opening match against the Netherlands. The broadcast will start at 8:45pm (ZDF). ... BBC 3D Head Kim Shillinglaw has announced that production of all 3D TV content will halt after the November "airing of the 50th anniversary episode of 'Doctor Who.'" Shillinglaw said that the BBC "will take a three year break from producing 3D television shows in order to see if the technology gains greater acceptance among the U.K. viewing public" (DIGITAL TRENDS, 7/5).
