Fifa, football’s global governing body, is considering dropping 3D broadcasts of the 2014 World Cup, according to the Associated Press news agency.
Fifa cited US sports broadcaster ESPN’s recent decision to close its 3D television channel by the end of the year as a key factor in its reasoning.
“We know that the technology has had a few setbacks in recent days, if you refer to some of the statements [by ESPN],” Niclas Ericson, Fifa’s director of television, said. “It's clear when a big sports broadcaster like ESPN makes an announcement like that it creates a lot of extra tension [for the technology].”
The 2010 World Cup in South Africa was the first to be broadcast in 3D. Twenty-five of the 64 games were shown in the format and the initiative was set to be repeated for next year’s tournament in Brazil.
FIFA has issued questionnaires to rights-holders to gauge their interest in 3D coverage. “We are still reviewing whether we should do 3D for the 2014 Fifa World Cup, the number of matches,” Ericson said.
Ericson said that several broadcasters are interested in retaining the 3D feeds and added that Fifa is still “reviewing the cost of it.”
He added: “Whether this [limited appeal for 3D] is temporary and this will come back in a few years in a new way we don't know. We are spending most of our efforts [on high-definition coverage] and that's most important for us.”