Free-to-air. Late kick-offs. Six weeks of footfall.
The 2026 World Cup is on BBC and ITV — every match, no Sky subscription required. UK kick-offs (mostly evening) line up perfectly with peak trading. Properly equipped venues will be busy for 39 straight days. Properly equipped venues will also still be busy on the next Premier League weekend.
Public industry research — every property's results vary. We don't promise revenue lift; we install the AV that lets you capture it.
Five things venues get wrong showing live sport
From 30+ years of pub AV in the field — these are the mistakes we fix on every install.
Not enough screens
If customers have to fight for a view, the experience deteriorates and the regulars vote with their feet.
Screens too high or too small
Mounted near ceilings or tucked into corners. Hard to follow the match in a crowded room.
Poor audio distribution
One pair of speakers shouting from the bar. Commentary either drowns conversation or is inaudible at the back.
Systems too complex for staff
Three remotes, four inputs, no idea which channel ITV is on. During a busy service period, that's revenue walking out.
Ignoring the beer garden
The most valuable extension to your viewing capacity, often left as a smoking corner with no AV at all.
The fix
Sonor designs around all five. Coverage, intelligibility, simple staff control, and the outdoor zone treated as first-class space.
Setup options
1. Single Screen Setup
One commercial-grade large-format display or projector + screen, properly mounted with signal routing and a basic sound upgrade. Fastest to install, lowest commitment.
- Commercial 65"–86" display or 3,000+ lumen projector
- Freeview / aerial signal routing
- Basic ceiling speaker or soundbar audio upgrade
- Wall-mounted, properly cabled, fully calibrated
2. Multi-Screen Network — RECOMMENDED
2–4 commercial displays distributed around the venue (bar, dining area, snug, beer garden), driven from a single source matrix so you can show two matches at once. Proper zoned audio, single tablet control.
- 2–4 commercial 55"–75" displays
- HDMI matrix or IP video distribution — any source on any screen
- Zoned ceiling-speaker audio with ducking automation for goals
- One tablet, simple staff training, no remote chasing
3. Full Venue AV — PREMIUM
Main projector or video wall + 3–6 distributed displays + full zoned commercial sound + weatherproof beer-garden TV + digital signage. The "destination venue" build — pulls crowds from the next postcode.
- Main projector / video wall in the principal viewing area
- 3–6 distributed commercial displays across remaining zones
- Properly engineered zoned audio with PA-grade headroom
- IP65 outdoor TV (ProofVision Durascreen) for beer garden / terrace
- Digital signage for fixtures, food, drink — all match week
4. Beer Garden Add-On
Stand-alone or extension to existing setup. Weatherproof outdoor TV plus outdoor speakers — covered terrace through to open beer garden, all weatherproof.
- IP65 outdoor TV (ProofVision 43"–75") or weatherproof projector
- Outdoor speakers under the eaves or freestanding
- Same source feed as indoor — no awkward delays between zones
5. Sound System Only
Already got the screens but the audio's letting it down? We retrofit a properly engineered sound system around your existing displays — coverage, intelligibility, and the celebration carry the match deserves.
- Commercial ceiling speakers or wall-mount monitors
- Zoned amplification, ducking automation
- Background music sources for non-match periods
Our approach
Every venue layout, lighting condition and brief is different — we don't quote off a price list. We'll do a 30-minute site walk, send you a clear, itemised proposal, and you can decide in your own time. No pressure, no obligation.
The economic case: hiring kit for the duration runs to thousands across 39 days. A permanent install is owned outright, holds value, and earns through every match weekend after the World Cup ends.
Timing
- Now — site visit, scope, package agreement
- Mid-May — last call to commit for guaranteed pre-kick-off install
- Late May / early June — install runs (typically 1–3 days per venue)
- 11 June — kick-off, fully tested system, full house
Three steps to a packed venue
Site visit
30 minutes on site. We walk the venue, listen to the brief, identify zones. Free, no obligation.
Fixed proposal
Itemised quote — kit, install, timeline. Compare against doing nothing or hiring kit ad-hoc.
Pre-kick-off install
1–3 days, out-of-hours where needed. Calibrated, staff-trained, ready for the first whistle.
Our full process
- Site visit and brief — walk the venue, understand sightlines, identify zones
- Fixed proposal — package, equipment list, install timeline
- Concealed install — out-of-hours where required, dressed-out cabling
- Calibration and zoning — picture, audio, source routing, ducking
- Staff training and handover — one tablet, simple operation
All matches broadcast free-to-air on BBC & ITV — no Sky subscription required. Venues showing live sport must hold a valid PRS for Music / PPL licence. It is the venue's responsibility to obtain all required broadcast and public performance licences. Sonor Smart Homes is not affiliated with FIFA, BBC, ITV or any official tournament partner — we supply and install AV equipment only.