• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, March 24, 2010

Univision won't broadcast this summer's World Cup in 3D like ESPN, but it's making HD a staple. All 64 tournament games on its networks will be live in the pristine format.

Univision's Spanish-language coverage also will break ground with all games available to various cable, satellite and telco TV subscribers on VOD the morning after the live coverage. Some of those will also be in HD.

Also for the first time, all Cup games will be streamed live on UnivisionFutbol.com -- for free. ESPN, which has the English-language rights, will also stream the games on the Web, but those are only available to broadband customers with the soon-to-be-branded ESPN3.com.

The Univision game-casts will also be available to Verizon VCast mobile subscribers.

All games will be on the flagship Univision network, except when two are played at the same time. Then, one will be shifted to TeleFutura. The majority of the approximately 15 million U.S. homes without access to ESPN will be able to watch the World Cup on the Univision networks, albeit in Spanish.

Univision is using the event as a maypole for its networks throughout the tournament, with lengthy pre-game shows and its news and sports programs rife with information and discussion.

"The most important sporting event for Hispanics bar-none," stated Univision head of news Alina Falcón.