At the last soccer World Cup , it was all about 3D . This time around , it 's nothing less than 4K . In 2010 , FIFA was the driving force behind 3D television . The international soccer authority teamed up with Sony to bring fans 3D images of 25 matches from the World Cup tournament in South Africa . Back then , TV companies and broadcasters were hoping to follow the box office success of 3D movies . Even the Queen got into 3D , recording her 2012 Christmas message in 3D format . But the demand for 3D TV has not been as great as expected . Hollywood has fully embraced 3D technology . Around a third of all cinema screens globally are now 3D and the number of 3D film releases is growing steadily . But the glasses required to fully experience 3D have put off the small-screen viewers . Duncan Humphreys , of Stream TV Networks , said the special glasses clashed with the multi-screen experience many younger viewers demand . Many broadcasters have now scaled back on their 3D ambitions . BBC put its 3D TV project on hold for three years in last June , after saying the technology had n't lived up to expectations . ESPN followed just a couple months later , closing its 3D channel down due to `` limited viewer adoption of 3D services . '' Even FIFA has ditched the special 3D spectacles , betting instead on a brand new technology , 4K . The technology promises to offer viewing experiences four times clearer than high definition . A standard high definition television has a 1080p resolution , or more than 2 million pixels per frame . 4K TVs have more than 8.8 million pixels . FIFA and Sony are filming three full matches in 4K , and will also put out an official 2014 FIFA World Cup film in 4K once the tournament is over . Read more : Can Amazon help 3-D finally catch on ? Read more : 4K TV promises to be four times clearer than high-def .
The demand for 3D television has not been as great as originally expected . The need to wear 3D glasses clashed with the multi-screen experience many demand . 4K technology is taking over -- some World Cup games will be filmed using this ultra high-definition technology .