Other World Cup Options: Online and in 3D (maybe)

So, you can't get to a television but you're desperate to see Cameroon play Denmark. Or you missed last night's game, you're stuck at work and you need to know what the hell your colleagues are talking about. What are the online options for World Cup viewing?

After series of difficult negotiations, Tudou.com announced on Apr 22 that they finally had a deal with CNTV (China Network Television, CCTV’s abandoned son who look like they will shortly be merged with their parent) to broadcast the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, thereby becoming the first online video site to stream the sporting event. The deal allows Tudou to place clips of different matches on their website as video-on-demand.

Thing is, on April 23, the day after Tudou’s announcement, Ku6.com held a press conference in which they also announced a deal with CNTV. And, low and behold, Wang Wenbin, the general manager of CCTV.com said that Ku6 was the very first website to sign a contract with CNTV.

In any case, it seems CNTV will be the only local website actually broadcasting the World Cup live – all other sites that have deals with CNTV will get the games 270 minutes after the live broadcast. Ku6 will, however, embed CCTV’s broadcasts to achieve “indirect live streaming.” In other words, you will be able to watch CNTV’s broadcasts on the Ku6 site. Predictably, Youku.com have now announced the same thing.

Other websites where you may find World Cup video clips this summer are Sohu.com, Sina.com and Tencent.com (home to QQ, one of China’s most popular messaging services).

The video quality of online clips often leaves much to be desired, and of course the speed of connections varies. Still, there’s the option to catch up on those 2am games at work while looking like you’re doing something useful – just make sure your boss isn’t watching.

If online video just doesn’t do it for you, there’s one other option… maybe.

Watching Matches in 3D

The Global Times reported late last month that two cinemas in Beijing will broadcast 25 World Cup matches in 3D: Golden Resources Mall Stellar International Cineplex and World City Stellar International Cineplex.

A report on Sina on June 1 added two more cinemas: CBD Wanda Cinema and UME International Cineplex. At that time ticket prices were not confirmed, though the article claimed entry would be around RMB 65 per match.

This wouldn’t be China without complications however.

On June 2, Beijing News cast doubt on whether the 3D cinema broadcasts would happen.

The Global Times helped clear things up yesterday (June 10, page 20) with quotes from SMI Vice-President Yuan Xin (SMI runs Stellar International Cineplex), denying the broadcasts had been cancelled due to technological problems while also stating he was “not 100 percent certain” the broadcasts would happen.

Clear? Good. It’ll be more fun watching the games in a bar anyway.