BBC Go For Game, Set, And Third Dimension
The curse of the commentator seems to have struck here, as less than a day after this website made suggestions that the BBC were not doing much for the advancement of 3DTV in the UK, the long-serving public broadcaster have announced their very first 3D broadcast.
Today saw the announcement by the BBC that has confirmed plans to make their first-ever live 3D broadcast by experimenting with the technology during the annual Wimbledon Tennis Championships, culminating in a live 3D version of both the men’s and women’s finals.
It will be seen by many as a fitting way to commemorate the event’s 125th run, as the organisers themselves are stressing the importance of tradition and innovation at Wimbledon on this special anniversary year.
While viewers will need a 3DTV to take advantage of the offer at home, the BBC, who are working alongside the All-England Lawn Tennis Club (co-organisers of the Wimbledon Championships) and Sony Professional (3D technology), are to put the broadcast on their existing HD channel, availiable to compatiable users on the Freeview (#54) Freesat (#109), Sky (#169) and Virgin Media (#187) TV providers, meaning that unlike Sky’s official 3D channel, users will not need to subscribe to get a taste of live 3D sport, although the usual glasses will still be required despite the coverage being on a non-3D channel.
The plans also include a deal to cater for those without a 3DTV, with selected cinemas across the British Isles set to screen the men’s final live. The BBC are offering tickets to this unique event, with the window of application open until June 13. The men’s final is to be played on July 3, while the women’s showpiece is scheduled for a day earlier.
The famed tennis tournament, as a whole, will again be given in-depth coverage across the BBC’s selection of outlets, including online (including BBC iPlayer), radio, and TV channels, such as BBC One, BBC Two, BBC One HD, BBC HD, and red-button interactive services, amongst others.
Danielle Nagler, who is in charge of HD and 3D broadcasting at the BBC, said of the implementation of 3D: “I’m delighted that in this anniversary year we’re bringing UK audiences a new way of getting close to the action on Centre Court. I’m sure that 3D will only add to the drama as the world’s greatest players compete for the championship.”
BBC Sport executive producer Paul Davies added: “During our 75 years of televising the Wimbledon Championships the BBC has continually broken new ground in broadcasting techniques. This unique 3D transmission is the latest innovation to bring to life all the tension, drama and excitement on one of the most iconic arenas in the world.”
George Entwistle, BBC Vision director, summarised: “We know how much audiences already enjoy the BBC’s Wimbledon television coverage. This is a hugely important experiment for us and I’m pleased that we have the opportunity to show some of our stunning sports coverage to our audiences, in 3D, for free.”
The move has also started rumours that the BBC are now looking at providing 3D coverage for selected events during the 2012 Olympic Games in London (England), but nothing has yet been confirmed.
Despite Virgin Media having beaten the BBC to the post for the first live 3D tennis broadcast in the UK (via the new EuroSport 3D’s coverage of the recent French Open), will the public broadcaster now be paving the way for bigger and better things with 3D?
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[...] The content is said to feature only on connected TV’s from Sony, and includes the recent matches from the Wimbledon Tennis Championships broadcast by the BBC. [...]
[...] With a projected local audience of over 75% of the UK population set to tune in to the 2012 Olympic Games, the BBC intends on going all-out to provide top-quality and detailed coverage, including plans for selected 3D coverage following a trial of the technology at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships earlier in the year. [...]
[...] the BBC have overseen a recent emergence into the 3D sports market (including live coverage of the Wimbledon tennis finals and a near-confirmation of select live coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games), Cameron has agreed [...]