ESPN, ABC and Soccer United to Show Matches in HD

ESPN and ABC announced this week that it will broadcast the 2006 World Cup matches in hi-def.

ESPN HD, ABC HD and ESPN2 HD will team up to present live coverage of all 64 matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany in 2006 in HD. The HD telecasts will be offered as a simulcast of ESPN, ABC Sports and ESPN2 World Cup coverage.

"The 2006 World Cup will offer a tremendous opportunity to bring fans closer to the action, the passion and pageantry during one of the greatest sports events through our high definition service," said Bryan Burns, ESPN vice president, strategic business planning and development.

2006 World Cup matches will be played in 12 German cities--Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Hanover, Kaiserslautern, Leipzig, Munich, Nuremberg and Stuttgart.