TVNZ has confirmed high definition content will be available for its shared coverage of the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa, but declined to give specifics on how many games will be screened in this format.

Sky and TVNZ announced today they will share their coverage of the tournament.

Sky will have the full live rights to all 64 matches, with TVNZ broadcasting 11 live matches, including the opening match, final, both semis and the third place playoff.

Freeview also announced it will use its Sport extra channel to provide an additional 11 games live as well as highlights from other matches and replays.

"We are delighted to continue our relationship with Sky to provide expansive coverage, across both networks, of this prestigious global event," TVNZ's general manager of sport, Murray Needham says.

"TVNZ and Sky have brought the last two Fifa World Cup events to New Zealand homes.”

"With a focus on featuring all 64 matches live, Sky is very excited to continue its commitment to New Zealand football fans.

We are also pleased to be working with TVNZ once again, which will ensure comprehensive coverage for New Zealand viewers", Sky's director of programming sport, Kevin Cameron, says.

The 2006 Soccer World Cup in Japan/South Korea was the first world cup to be broadcast completely in HD – something Kiwis missed out on as there was no HDTV infrastructure here.

Sky did operate a specific channel screening the matches at the last cup, which went on to become Sky Sport 3.

Sky chief executive John Fellet said that although no specific plans had been made yet, that Sky would probably do that again but HD games would have to be screened on Sky Sport 1 or 2.

“In two years’ time we have no idea how many HDTVs will be in the marketplace, so it’s hard to make these kind of projections,” Mr Fellet said.

Qualifying matches are under way to determine the final 32 teams that will play in the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Under the agreement with Australasian rights holders SBS, the coverage will include all the Fifa events leading up to the 2010 World Cup, including the Women's under-17 World Cup hosted by New Zealand later this month.

Every match in this event will screen live on Sky with TVNZ showing the New Zealand games and the final delayed.

The package also includes the women's under-20 World Cup in November, the men's under-17 and under-20 World Cup events, along with the Confederations Cup in 2009, and the women's under-17 and under-20 events in 2010.