In what is positively our last World Cup story, Sennheiser has been highlighting its role in ensuring that half a billion or so TV viewers and radio listeners get to hear every goal of the tournament.
Some 300 TV stations from more than 200 countries show all 64 games – and everything else going on besides – in their respective home countries. And most of the radio and TV broadcasting companies have for many years now been working with professional wireless systems from Sennheiser. Whether it’s the super-compact SK 5212 pocket transmitter, clip-on mics or headphones for radio commentators, or camera microphones and receivers, Sennheiser products were in use in the new outside broadcast vehicles and television studios, behind the goals and on the coach’s bench.
“Our SKM 5200 handheld transmitter was the most high-profile Sennheiser product at this soccer World Cup,” said Rolf Meyer, speaker of the executive team and president marketing and sales. So that no-one missed out on a single goal, terrace chant or pitch-side reaction from the players, the technology had to work just perfectly. “To make sure it did, we provided an internet support portal and a telephone helpline,” said Meyer. “Here engineers and users of our products can access important information and services. A Sennheiser support team also gave ongoing assistance in getting things set up for the transmissions, and they were of course on hand during the World Cup too.”
By the end of the tournament, more than 42,000 hours of coverage had been logged – round the world, round the clock – with over 12,000 technicians and journalists involved. A cumulative total of 30 billion viewers followed the 64 games of the World Cup and Sennheiser was there to ensure they all heard the conclusion as Italy slotted home the crucial penalty to beat France.
