Cisco has revealed that ESPN will use Cisco TelePresence to deliver live and recorded coverage of  soccer matches and connect the global soccer community with teams, players and coaches at the 2010  FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament in South Africa. The incorporation of Cisco TelePresence will allow  ESPN to deliver televised content more effectively and economically as well as enhance soccer fans'  viewing experience. Cisco TelePresence, which uses high-definition video and audio to create a  face-to-face virtual experience, will further enhance ESPN's coverage of soccer matches throughout  the month long tournament. By using the existing Cisco broadband network in South Africa, the two  industry leaders are transforming the sports television industry by enabling a more timely delivery  of video content, including greater fan access to unique game analysis and player footage.

 

ESPN is taking advantage of the Cisco TelePresence HD real-time video for its live coverage of the  19th FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament, a first for any video communications solution. The technology  will also give the worldwide leader in sports increased flexibility and expanded coverage, enhancing  both the content and coverage of the games. The immersive experience is made possible with  imperceptible latency, regardless of distance, ultimately leading to a more compelling interview. In  addition, with the deployment of Cisco TelePresence in South Africa, ESPN will be able to host  remote interviews with visiting country leaders, coaches, players and fans, all from highly secure  and quiet locations with convenient access to key stadium sites. The remote broadcast interviews  captured via Cisco TelePresence will then be accessible for soccer fans to view on ESPN's worldwide  soccer sites.

 

By utilizing Cisco TelePresence to conduct exclusive World Cup reports from Cape Town and Port  Elizabeth, ESPN will achieve significant cost savings as compared to traditional remote interviews.

 

Even though these two locations are hundreds of miles from the International Broadcast Center in  Johannesburg, Cisco TelePresence technology negates the need for ESPN to send news trucks to the  host cities, creating an "always available" virtual studio.

 

All Cisco TelePresence interviews captured during the tournament will be converted to video files  for posting and viewing on the ESPN Soccernet site.