The 2014 World Cup in Brazil will be the most accessible ever. With live TV, online coverage, on-demand highlights, mobile, catch-up TV apps, radio and more, all helping ensure we don't miss a kick.
It's also the perfect launchpad for new technology, with the 2014 World Cup set to be the first to embrace 4K Ultra HD, with three matches expected to be shown live in 4K... at least somewhere in the world.
So where can you watch this summer's festival of football (if you're not in Rio with match tickets)? Whether you're in your living room or on the move, watching live or catching the highlights, here's our guide to watching all the drama as it unfolds in Brazil.
The World Cup is one of a number of sporting spectacles
reserved for broadcast on free-to-air – or terrestrial – TV channels.
That means Sky and BT Sport aren't allowed to gain the exclusive rights
to the tournament. It must be shown live on terrestrial channels.
Like previous World Cups, television duties are going to
be shared by BBC and ITV. The duo have already agreed how to split the
group games, with ITV showing the opening fixture between Brazil and
Croatia on 12th June. The BBC has England's first game against Italy on
16th June.
The BBC will get first pick of the last 16 and semi-finals, while ITV will get to choose its quarter-final match first.
For the BBC, there'll be 31 live matches shown on TV and more than 160 hours of programming (50% more than in 2010), including highlights and match re-runs across BBC One, Two and Three, plus the respective HD channels.
The Beeb is also planning supplementary programmes and extensive News coverage, with a daily morning highlights programme on BBC Two (and in HD).
Meanwhile, ITV can boast 34 live games in total across its main channel and ITV4, 20 of which will be from the group stages and the remaining 14 from the knockout phase.
An added bonus for Sky Go customers is that, from June 4th, they can watch ITV's live games through the mobile TV service – always important if you're out and about, or in another room away from the main TV.
Both the BBC and ITV will be showing the World Cup final.
The Beeb is also planning supplementary programmes and extensive News coverage, with a daily morning highlights programme on BBC Two (and in HD).
Meanwhile, ITV can boast 34 live games in total across its main channel and ITV4, 20 of which will be from the group stages and the remaining 14 from the knockout phase.
An added bonus for Sky Go customers is that, from June 4th, they can watch ITV's live games through the mobile TV service – always important if you're out and about, or in another room away from the main TV.
Both the BBC and ITV will be showing the World Cup final.
