Sky will launch 3D TV channel in April
It's official: Sky will launch Europe's first 3D TV channel in April - and will preview its new service this Sunday.
The plan is to make Sky 3D available to all Sky+ HD customers with a wide range of 3D content covering films, sport, documentaries, entertainment and the arts.
Sky 3D will work with all existing Sky+ HD boxes and will initially be introduced as a bonus at no extra cost for customers who subscribe to Sky's top subscription package and the Sky HD pack.
Of course, customers will need to buy a new 3D-ready television to take advantage of the service. Sky says its 3D channel will be compatible with all 3D-Ready TVs coming to the UK and Ireland this year, including models from Sony, Samsung, LG and Panasonic.
Gerry O'Sullivan, Sky's director of strategic product development, says: "2010 is the year for 3D TV. People have already embraced 3D cinema and because Sky's 3D service uses the same kind of technology, we're confident there will be demand for sports, movies, concerts and drama in 3D."
Arsenal vs Man United in 3D
As a precursor to the launch of 3D TV, Sky will broadcast the clash between Arsenal and Manchester United this Sunday (January 31st) in 3D at selected pubs around the country.
The Premier League match will be filmed in 3D and broadcast in nine pubs located in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Dublin. They've been kitted out with some of the first 3D-Ready TV sets in the country, supplied by LG.
But Sky is not releasing details of exactly which pubs will show the game in 3D as "we need to manage demand and ensure the pubs' regulars get to see the match," says a Sky spokeswoman.
LG's 47in LD920 TVs will be used for Sunday's 3D broadcast, and customers will be supplied with passive glasses to view it. The LD920 3D TV will be on sale in the UK from April.
"LG is committed to making high-quality TV more accessible and this initiative with Sky does just that," says Stephen Gater, head of marketing, home entertainment LG UK.
As 3D TVs become more widely available, Sky will roll out its 3D channel to hundreds more pubs from April.
Sunday's game at the Emirates Stadium will be covered in two feeds, one for Sky's HD channel, one for the 3D one. Eight specially-engineered 3D camera rigs will house 16 of Sky's high-definition cameras, to provide comprehensive stereoscopic coverage from all angles.
The 3D broadcast will be supported by Sky's dedicated 3D production team and a purpose-built 3D outside broadcast truck, which will enable live mixing between camera positions, slow motion replays and the use of 3D graphics.
There will also be a dedicated commentary team to support the 3D edit.
Read our related stories on Sky 3D.
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Comments
John - 3D home projectors are in the pipeline (LG announced one at CES; JVC and others have them in development), but again, there'll be extra expense: us projector users may need a different screen as well as a new projector to experience 3D.
LastManWithBetamax - both kinds of glasses (passive and active) from all the companies launching 3D are designed so they can also be worn over existing spectacles.
Ah thanks Claire...and hence why there are no plans for home 3D with projectors.
At the moment, 3D's glasses will probably cost �75 for each person.
You may require a different pair of 3D's glasses dependent on which 3D's TV system you are using.
For example, you may require a different pair of glasses if travelling to a relative's or friend's house.
Davro83
Sky is previewing 3D "at selected pubs around the country using LG TVs," as it says in the story. You won't be able to watch the footie in 3D at home.
One website which reviewed 3D TVs at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) at Las Vegas stated that there were problems with all the various manufactures's 3D pictures.
It may have been the BBC's TV programme called, 'Click' (usually on Saturdays and Sundays) which I probably got the following information below or I probably got it from You Tube:
At CES, it probably was a LG's person that stated that they hadn't agreed the specifications, which I think were for the glasses. There are probably two types of 3D's glasses active and non active with both advantages and disadvantages.
Wearing glasses to see Avatar's 3D film was uncomfortable at times.
Interesting point made, because I thought that it is only HDMI 1.4 is compatible with 3D and that HDMI 1.3 is incompatible with 3D.
Recently, it was only that somebody stated that nobody has taken into account that an HDMI 1.4 amplifier/AV receiver will also be required that I began to realize the full cost of 3D:
A new HDMI 1.4; 3D TV, amplifier/AV receiver, Blu-ray player, and Cables.
I doubt if existing Sky+ boxes and Virgin V+ boxes can display proper 3D TV, because if so why do we have to upgrade from HDMI 1.3 products to HDMI 1.4.
I was hoping in vein that by using 3D's glasses we could obtain 3D and if necessary 3D's Blu-ray player but I was told by Sony UK - No! I was hoping that a better version of 3D's DVD films with cheap cardboard glasses in the past.
I have just realised that SKY and Virgin has consistently claimed for years that there is not enough space for even 1080i let alone 1080p so were are they going to find the space for 3D?
HDMI 1.3 and HDMI 1.4 should have been implemented within HDMI 1.1c the latest together with wireless connections.
3D films are the equivalent to the boy who shouted that the king was naked because nobody had told him about the perfect suit.
It appears that 3D has been watered down. 3D appears to be 3D cartoons and CGI is almost just computerised cartoons.
The only part of Avatar, which I could see as being 3D is probably some few snow flakes which appears to fall between the screen and the viewer.
Years ago, at Alton Towers at an iMAX seeing video clips of a roller coaster was 3D - Simulators are 3D and the movements made them 4D - Since, I didn't know what what was meant by 4D when I went to the London's Eye I paid a second time just so that I could see the 15 minute 4D video clip. The 3D section was far superior than Avatar - My mother who went to Florida said that the 3D section was a disappointment - Years ago, at the Bristol's iMAX before it closed and reopened saw astronauts floating in a space ship. Had to move out of the way because it felt that things were floating from the screen and would hit you if you didn't move out of the way or the other alternative was trying to catch things - My definition of 3D feeling as part of the film.
Avatar as a 2D film was very good 2 hours and 45 minutes passed quickly, which is how I know it was a good film, but as a 3D's movie it is probably a con.
Jurassic Park, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and other films are probably more 3D realistic and involving (actually makes you jump) than Avatar and they are not called 3D films.
One of the pathetic excuse given of why we aren't being given proper 3D with things popping out of the screen is because it would cause headaches, but simulators and iMAX have been showing 3D films for years.
One of the next step will be to properly survey the internet manufactures will want us to throw away 3D TVs to have 3D and internet.
My assumption is based on the fact that placing a few widgets on 2009's TVs and implying that we will be upgraded to having access to the internet is a con. Most manufacturers it appears want people with TV's with widgets to buy a new TV probably in the near future to obtain proper access to the internet - like I said a con! Luckily, I have a Sony KDL-40W5810 LCD. It appears that Sony's Free Sat TV's are the only Free Sat's TVs with access to BBC's iplayer.
Any person rich enough and thinking about buying a 3D system should probably wait at least 2 to 3 years to at least sort out all the 'bugs' faults within 3D.
Have i got this right, you need a new 3D ready tv to watch the sky 3d and sky is previewing it this sunday....even tho you cant buy 3D ready tvs yet? Er..am i missing something.
As one of millions who wears specs already i cant help but wonder how i'm supposed to wear the pair of specs to see the 3d as well!
I'll pass on this gimmicky gimmick and wait for the moving holograms.
John, the system typically used in cinemas is a different, Dolby spec designed for use with passive glasses and big screens/wide viewpoints:
http://www.dolby.com/professional/solutions/cinema/3d-digital-cinema.html
No plans from Dolby at present to do a consumer version.
I don't know anybody who has actually seen a film in 3D - a friend who was going to see Avatar didn't even know there was a 3D version!
Hi Clare,
So which technology is currently being used in cinema projectors such as those at IMAX / your home cinema, as the glasses do not appear to be active?
Thanks
Ah...thanks for the clarification Clare!
JohnNewman - it's to do with the different 3D technologies involved. Existing HDMI can support side-by-side 3D (which uses polarised screen/passive glasses) with existing kit if manually set-up to do so.
No auto-switching though, and jury is out on whether this system will work with frame-by-frame 3D (which uses active, shutter glasses) due from Samsung, Sony, Panasonic etc....
So why can a Sky HD Box and PS3 output a 3d image over HDMI 1.3, while every other bluray player will need to be replaced?
In-fact...surely this demonstrates that there must be software way around the hdmi issue, which could be applied to receivers too.
hmmmmm
Not just one film: four of 2009's top 10 ranking movies were 3D releases...
"People have already embraced 3D cinema". That was one (admittedly hugely successful) film, and it gave me a headache...