Sony has partnered with FIFA to produce a film around the '14 FIFA World Cup "in ultra-high definition 4K" that will include "a selection of games, including the final, and will be available for purchase online" after the tournament, according to Jim Armstrong of the AP. Sony also will produce “one match from the round of 16, one quarterfinal match and the final" in ultra-HD. There is "little consumer 4K content currently available, and the technology is still pricy." A 55-inch ultra-HD TV in Japan "sells for about $3,400." But ESPN and BSkyB are currently "considering the potential of a dedicated 4K sports channel" (AP, 4/14). Meanwhile, MULTICHANNEL NEWS' Mike Reynolds reported Univision Deportes in June and July will "turn its lineup exclusively" to the World Cup "in the form of previews, the matches themselves and post-pitch analysis." Univision Deportes President Juan Carlos Rodriguez said that there will be "live simulcasts of matches appearing on Univision and UniMas, as well as full-match replays and cut-downs of the games." Rodriguez: "We're going to tell you why things are going to happen. And if things don't turn out that way, we'll explain why we missed them." Reynolds reported Univision will "deploy 32 cameras for its match coverage," up from the dozen it typically uses for its presentations of the most-viewed soccer circuit in the U.S., LigaMX. Digitally, users also will be able to "keep pace with the World Cup and other soccer action via its recently introduced app, powered by streaming leader NeuLion" (MULTICHANNEL.com, 4/14).
