Live From CES 2018: Hisense, Fox Sports Partner Up for Exclusive 2018 World Cup Smart TV App

The app will feature live games in 4K HDR and near–real-time highlights from 37 customizable camera angles

At CES 2018, Hisense announced a partnership with Fox Sports to create a 2018 FIFA World Cup app for its Smart TVs. Fox Sports GO: 2018 FIFA World Cup Edition will allow fans to choose from a variety of live 4K viewing angles during games, such as feeds that focus on specific teams or aerial views. The app will feature live games and near–real-time highlights from 37 customizable camera angles and original soccer content. In addition, Hisense announced its latest lineup of 4K UHD TVs, including including the 100-in. Hisense 4K UHD Smart Laser TV, a more than 1,000-zone H10E 4K Smart ULED TV, and the bezel-less H9E Plus 4K Smart ULED TV.

Hisense Teams With Fox Sports for All-Access World Cup on Smart TVs
Leading up to and during this summer’s World Cup, Hisense will offer consumers the Fox Sports GO: 2018 FIFA World Cup Edition app, which will be available exclusively on selected Hisense Smart TV models and will give consumers access to Fox Sports’ 2018 FIFA World Cup content. The app will be preloaded directly onto select Hisense Smart TVs starting in the spring, serving as a hub for this content.

Hisense U7 ULED TV, the World Cup Special Edition TV, and Hisense U9 ULED TV, the World Cup Limited Edition TV were introduced at the company’s CES press conference.

“This summer, the best seat for experiencing the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be in your own living room, gathered around a new Hisense TV with friends and family,” says Mark Viken, VP, marketing, Hisense USA. “The Fox Sports GO: 2018 FIFA World Cup Edition app will bring incredible soccer moments to life with multiple match feeds and viewing angles, a behind-the-scenes look at the development of future legends of the game, and, most important, amazing picture quality.”

The Hisense-exclusive Fox Sports GO: 2018 FIFA World Cup Edition app will allow Hisense consumers to experience multiple Fox Sports digital feeds, including the ability to choose from a variety of live viewing angles during games, such as feeds that focus on specific teams or aerial views. The app will feature live games and near-real-time highlights from 37 customizable camera angles and original soccer content — all in 4K

As part of this innovative partnership, Hisense will also be recognized as an associate sponsor of PHENOMS, Fox’s new documentary series that chronicles the journey of the next generation of hopeful World Cup stars on their quests to represent their countries. Launching ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the series will offer a fascinating portrait of 60 burgeoning stars.

“We are thrilled to work with an official FIFA partner like Hisense to help them develop an innovative platform that leverages the excitement of the 2018 FIFA World Cup,” says Danielle Maged, EVP, global solutions, Fox Networks Group. “Our multi-pronged, collaborative approach with Hisense showcases our appetite and ability to build smart, custom programs with our brand partners.”

The app’s live-viewing features will debut on June 14, when Russia hosts Saudi Arabia in the opening game of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Additionally, PHENOMS will premiere on Fox on May 25 and become available on the app and other Fox platforms immediately following the broadcast.

Although fans in the U.S. will have access to the Fox Sports GO: 2018 FIFA World Cup Edition, the Hisense soccer experience will be a global affair, offering a dynamic content hub for World Cup content in selected regions across the world.

In addition to the Fox Sports announcement, Hisense is launching its U7 ULED TV, the World Cup Special Edition TV, and U9 ULED TV, the World Cup Limited Edition TV, at CES. Hisense will be actively integrating its display technology and product directly into the tournament.

Besides offering exclusive World Cup content on Hisense TV products, the company will develop its 2018 FIFA World Cup creative campaigns for its overseas markets and deliver fan activations in Russia with Lagardère Sports. Hisense will launch an integrated marketing-communications campaign with premium football talents featured in TVCs, point-of-sales activities, digital content, and social media-engagement.

4K UHD Smart Laser TV, New Bezel-Less Design Headline New TV Sets
Hisense also took the opportunity at CES to unveil its 2018 TV line-up, including its 100-in. 4K Ultra HD Smart Laser TV, H10E 4K Smart ULED TV, and the H9E Plus 4K Smart ULED TV.

Introduced in Q4 2017, the 4K Ultra HD Smart Laser TV displays 3,000 lumens of 4K images on an Ambient Light Rejection screen and features a four-speaker built-in Harman/Kardon audio system and wireless subwoofer. The company expects it to be a key product in the coming years.

Combining ULED, Quantum Dot, and Dolby Vision HDR and HDR-10 technology, the 2018 flagship Hisense H10E Series 4K ULED Smart TV delivers more than 1,000 backlight zones and a peak brightness of more than 2,200 nits (typical). It also features a built-in Android TV interface with Google Assistant and built-in apps to personalize entertainment, as well as Amazon Alexa integration.

The Hisense H9E Plus Series 4K ULED Smart TV combines ULED ultra-wide color gamut and Dolby Vision HDR, as well as HDR-10 technology, with a sleek bezel-less design. It features a built-in Android TV interface with Google Assistant, as well as Amazon Alexa functionality. The affordable H9E Plus has an MSRP starting at under $600.

The H9E Series 4K ULED Smart TV brings wide color gamut, HDR-10 from the 50-in. class all the way up to the 86-in. class.

And the H8E Series 4K Smart TV is 40%  slimmer than its 2017 predecessor, with more screen-size options than ever before, including 43-, 50-, 55-, and 65-in. classes.

The next-generation Hisense Smart TV platform will feature a variety of new functions and integrations in 2018, including built-in apps like Netflix, Amazon Video, Pandora, TikiLIVE, and YouTube. In addition to offering one-touch access to most of the content that consumers want, selected 2018 Hisense 4K Smart TVs will also bring voice control to the forefront of the TV-viewing experience. Amazon Alexa-enabled Hisense 4K Smart TVs offer a wide variety of voice features right out of the box, including commands to turn the TV on and off, change inputs, and control volume.