Production for Korea/Japan 2002

Presumably, during the coming months the latest developments of equipment and system manufacturers, designed especially for the television coverage of the FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan 2002, will begin to appear on the market. Let's look at the production plan of the company Host Broadcast Services HBS, the host broadcaster in charge of the transmission signals.

The production department is responsible for the development of the details of the Production Plan of the 2002 World Cup. This Production Plan contains the guidelines for the production of the multilateral coverage of each of the games, on-screen graphics and the opening and closing ceremonies of the event.

The plan must take into account a number of parameters included but not limited to the following requirements:

1. The television audiences of the World Cup are much wider than the traditional audiences of football matches. These audiences include viewers who don't know much about the technical aspects of the game and who are more interested in the scope and human interest angles of the event.

Television coverage of the games varies from country to country. Many countries still employ 5-camera coverage, considering that digital platforms generally deliver various signals available to their subscribers, and incorporate more than 20 cameras. As a result of this, different audiences use different kinds of coverage. Coverage has to be free from outside influences and as objective as necessary to satisfy the preferences of a global audience.

The production style should not vary between different games. In other words, there are no great games or games of minor importance. However, there must be differences in the coverage of the games of the first round with respect to the games of the final round.

HBS's multilateral feed signals include the international core signal and Super Feeds. Additionally, there are several Super Feeds type feeding signals that will be produced for each encounter. These signs can be described as follows:

• The delivery point for Super Feeds is IBC1- Seoul (except for ISO feeds ).
• Ebif is technically available at IBC2-Yokohama.
• EBIF, technical and team feeds are technically available in the stadiums, subject to prior reservation.
• Extended Basic International Feed (EBIF)
• The Basic International Power Signal (EBIF) provides broadcasting partners with extended programming that includes both the time periods before and after the basic international signal. The EBIF will start 30 minutes before the kick-off and end 30 minutes after the final whistle. This means that the EBIF signal will be 20 minutes before the BIF (Basic International Feed) signal and will end 25 minutes later.
• For the most important matches, i.e. the opening game, the quarter-final matches, the semi-final games, the decisive match for third and fourth place, and the final game, the EBIF international signal will start 60 minutes before the kick-off (50 minutes before the international basic signal).

A dedicated camera that provides a continuous wide-angle shot of the plays, will allow broadcasters to identify and comment on situations from the tactical point of view. Similarly, this signal will have the availability of interviews and press conferences after the final whistle.

• Feeds from teams A and B

Contrary to the International Basic signal, which is totally impartial, the feed of teams A and B will be concentrated exclusively on the activities of each of them. All pre-game content of this signal will depend on the degree of access to the teams allowed by FIFA.

The warm-up and preparation activities of the two teams will however be seen and will be focused on the main players. Signals from teams A and B will also cover the presence of fans for the two participating teams. During the match there will be a continuous coverage of the substitute players and the members of the coaching staff or the most important players.

• Permanent featured information

Starting with the initial play, the highlights will be available on IBC1-Seoul on a specific channel. This information will be updated after each significant action in the game and will be repeated continuously thereafter. This replay will last as long as the game lasts, probably until the last 2 to 5 minutes near the end. It is planned that digital broadcasters will be able to use this live highlight under the PIP (picture-in-picture) format to update those who are late to witness the game.

• Iso-feeds

Other supplementary feeds called iso-cams (or isolated cameras ) including beauty shot will be available in stadiums.

The company HBS will produce the following sounds:

• Ambient Sound (Radio): Stereo sound that reflects the overall ambient sound of the stadium. This signal does not specifically include sounds related to the game's action.
• International TV Sound (BIF - EBIF): Stereo sound that reflects both the general sound of the stadium and the sounds of game actions such as the sound of kicking the ball or the referee's whistles, etc.
• Reinforced sound of the game action (EBIF only): A monophonic signal will be premixed from all directional microphones that will be capturing the sounds of the game actions (rifle-type microphones, parabolic microphones, etc.).
• Controlled and enhanced ambient sound (EBIF only): This signal will be a premix of the additional microphones that will be found collecting the ambient sound with the microphones installed on stationary bases at both ends of the stadium.
• HBS will not produce any encoded multichannel audio signals. In this case, it will provide broadcasting partners with a component audio signal necessary for multichannel production.

A total of 19 cameras will be used to cover each game, with the exception of the nine main games, in which the number of cameras will increase to 23.

• Camera 1
: Located in an elevated position at the center point of the field to provide the widest main shot of the game.
• Camera 2
: Medium close-up and closed close-up of covering the action.
• Cameras 3 & 4:
Located on the lines of 16 meters, they will be used to cover offensive actions, including plays out of place for repetition. Likewise, these cameras will provide a medium close-up of the goalkeepers and the line judges.
• Cameras 5 & 6
: These two cameras will provide low-angle images for the super slow motion replay images for the players and the respective actions. (These cameras will be used only for the nine main games.)
• Cameras 7 and 8
: Two super slow motion cameras will be located behind the goalkeepers, for the coverage of the goals.
• Camera 9
: It is a super slow motion camera that will be located on the center line of the field.
• Cameras 10
: Camera dedicated to the tactical signal, usually located very high behind the left goal.
• Camera 11:
Mounted in a high position behind the right goal (in principle).
• Cameras 12 & 13
: Mini-cameras located near each goal: These cameras will provide closed shots of the actions near the goal for repetition.
• Cameras 14 & 15
: Cameras mounted on cranes located behind each goal.
• Cameras 16 & 17
: For the coverage of the players, the benches and other actions at the level of the field these will be operated as cameras in hand.
• Camera 18
: Opposite angle camera used for shots of coaches, personalities and players on the sidelines and repetition of actions.
• Cameras 19 & 20
: Elevated cameras of opposite angle used for the coverage of equipment A and B.
• Camera 21:
Super slow motion camera located on the opposite side of the centerline at field level. (This camera will be used only for the nine main games.)
• Camera 22
: Camera in hand or mounted on a dolly located on the side line. (This camera will be used only for the nine main games.)
• Camera 23
: This camera will provide the beauty shot, an aerial view of the stadium and if possible of the surroundings.

The HBS group, led by Francis Tellier, is the host for the broadcast operations of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan.

As a broadcaster host, HBS is on a mission to provide partners with all the international radio and television coverage of the 64 matches planned in the competition agenda.

A second responsibility, of equal importance, is the provision of unilateral production, commentator facilities and transmission facilities to respond to the requirements of the associated broadcasters.

This company will design, build, prepare and manage all the international broadcast centres (IBC's) in Korea and Japan as well as the unilateral and multilateral facilities for broadcasting in the IBC centres and in the 20 football stadiums where the different games will be held.

They will also work closely with all members of the FIFA World Cup community to ensure the best logistical, technical and financial conditions necessary for optimal coverage of the World Cup for the benefit of the associated broadcasters.