Sport Will Drive 3D Take Up
January 28, 2010
We continue to believe that although all the eyes are watching the "iPad," 3D is here too stay and sports will have a major role to play in 3D's role out as it did with HD television. And as a reminder the first public HDTV broadcast in the U.S. occurred on July 23, 1996, and in Europe in 2004.
Soccer fans will be able to watch Arsenal's Premier League clash with Manchester United in 3D at nine specially selected pubs in: London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Dublin. Gerry O'Sullivan, Sky's director of strategic product development, said: "Sunday will be a really historic day for television." However, he conceded that some fans may be put off by the thought of having to wear "silly glasses" in order to appreciate the 3D effect.
Tom Morrod, TV analyst at Screen Digest, said: "When Wayne Rooney curves in a free kick it will feel like you're really there. But, I'm looking forward to the prospect of groups of hard-core football fans drinking pints with silly glasses on".
From April, Sky will screen at least one 3D Premier League match in hundreds of pubs across the country in an attempt to drum up public enthusiasm before launching a dedicated 3D channel beamed into homes in the autumn. The 3D channel will initially be available to Sky's 1.6m HD customers at no additional cost to the £57 per month they currently pay.
- Avatar, James Cameron's 3D sci-fi epic, has surpassed the director'sTitanic, to become the most successful movie ever with global takings of $1.84bn (£1.14bn).
- England's RBS Six Nations matches against Wales and Ireland will be broadcast live in 40 Odeon and Cineworld cinemas nationwide.
- Fifa will show 25 games from the South Africa 2010 World Cup live in 3D.
- The Discovery Channel has joined forces with IMAX and Sony to create a 3D documentary channel set to launch in 2011.
