TOKYO (AP)

The World Cup will showcase the latest in TV technology that industry leaders hope will usher in a new era in sports broadcasting.

Japanese electronics giant Sony, in partnership with FIFA, will produce a World Cup film in ultra-high definition 4K, the next generation of broadcast and media resolutions.

Developed in 2003 by the technical research division of Japanese national broadcaster NHK, ultra-high definition, also known as 4K, delivers more nuance and detail than high definition TV.

Niclas Ericson, FIFA's director of TV, said "4K will propel fans around the globe into a whole new viewing dimension and it marks the dawning of a new era in the broadcasting of sport."

Companies like BSkyB and ESPN are considering the potential of a dedicated 4K sports channel.

Ultra-high definition displays have eight million pixels, four times the number of pixels for high definition TVs, making it ideal for sports broadcasting. A pixel is the smallest single component of a digital image. The more pixels that comprise an image, the clearer it becomes.

The World Cup film will include a selection of games, including the final, and will be available for purchase online after the World Cup. In addition to the World Cup film, one match from the round of 16, one quarter-final match and the final will be produced in ultra-high definition.