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Arsenal v Manchester United to be world's first live 3D football match
28 Jan 2010
Sunday's Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United will be the world's first live 3D TV sports broadcast, Sky said today.
Football fans at nine pubs in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Dublin will don shades to become the first audiences anywhere in the world to watch live 3D sport.
The top-of-the-table clash at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium will be the public's first taste of live 3D football ahead of Sky's dedicated 3D channel launching in April.
As the number of 3D TVs arriving in the UK increases, Sky promises to broadcast a weekly 3D Premier League game to hundreds more pubs this spring. And in the home, its 1.6 million Sky+HD customers (figure from September 2009) will be able to watch the 3D channel at no extra charge.
On Sunday Sky will transmit two live feeds - one to its traditional Sky Sports customers and another in 3D. Two separate commentary teams, two camera crews and two production teams will produce the simultaneous broadcasts.
Ex-Gunner Alan Smith and commentator Alan Parry will be the first voices of live 3D sport.
Darren Long, Sky Sports' director of operations, likened the 3D revolution to TV's last great technological leap.
He said: "When we moved from black and white to colour it was one of those amazing things that people would go and rush to see. Now, what we're doing with 3D is we're bringing that depth that you've never had traditionally and it's really a case of seeing is believing."
Mr Long dismissed the suggestion 3D sport was a gimmick and explained how the extra dimension gives viewers a greater appreciation of the action.
He said: "When you watch a golfer putting in 2D it looks flat - it looks easy. When you see it in 3D you can see every bump and contour on the green and you really appreciate their skill."
Sky's 3D demonstrations show how the new technology helps represent the difficulties a rugby player faces kicking a conversion, the distance between sprinters as they cross the finish line and the skill and length of a cutting cross field pass in football.
The broadcaster has been developing its 3D system for two years and its team even travelled to America to visit the pioneer of modern 3D cinema, Avatar director James Cameron. Mr Long told how the meeting went.
"James is a massive evangelist about 3D and he lives, breathes and eats 3D and just wants to see good 3D out there," he said. "For him, it was about how we were going to do it, what equipment we were going to use, what were our filming techniques. He's all about 'Get the message out there, get it out well and to the people properly'."
Sky is rolling out its 3D service with live sports, but also plans to broadcast movies, concerts and drama.
At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, earlier this month, all the major TV manufacturers - including Sony, Samsung, LG and Panasonic - unveiled 3D sets for 2010. However, a single 3D standard has yet to be settled.
Sky wishes to avoid the format wars which have sometimes stalled the early adoption of new technology - from Betamax and VHS to Blu-ray and HD DVD. As a result, its 3D service will be compatible with all 3D ready TVs coming to the UK this year.
Gerry O'Sullivan, Sky's director of product development said: "2010 is the year of 3D TV. People have already embraced 3D cinema... Sky's 3D service uses the same kind of technology."
Mr O'Sullivan was involved in the launch of Sky's HD service and believes his customers' passion for their interests - whether its ballet, concerts, film or football - will drive the uptake of new technology.
He added: "There's a lot of similarities to when we announced our HD (high-definition) service. Sceptics were saying it's too niche and only good for certain situations, for some sports and some movies.
"Following the overwhelmingly positive response to Sky News HD coverage of US President Barack Obama we took the decision to launch Sky News HD, which will become our 38th HD channel."
Reader views (16)
I'm afraid the Elk in Fulham will not be showing the match in 3D.
- Elk Bar, London, 30/01/2010 14:12
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Just phoned Bar Kick in Shoreditch and they are NOT showing it in 3D just HD. Anyone know where it is on?
- Jo, Maidstone, Kent, 29/01/2010 18:27
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This list seems like complete nonsense...
I spoke to "The George" and they said they are not showing the match in 3D.
Does anyone know of any pubs in London that are 100%?
Thanks
- Ij, London, 29/01/2010 15:56
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Cardiff - The Blackweir Tavern (North Road)
Dublin - Qbar (D'Olier Street)
Edinburgh - Belushis (Market Street)
London - Bar Kick (Shoreditch)
London - The Elk Bar (Fulham)
London - The George (Liverpool St)
London - Sirocco ( Soho)
Manchester - Binary Bar (Castlefield)
Manchester - O'Sheas (Princess Street)
- Junglejimuk, London UK, 29/01/2010 15:07
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does anyone know where these pubs are in manchester?.
- Jimi Mc, stockport england, 29/01/2010 12:52
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Do you think Sky will place 50 cameras around each goal in the hope that the ball will hit one! Everyone DUCK!!!! 
- Felix, Thorpe Bay, England, 29/01/2010 08:25
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Anyone know what pubs are showing in 3-D or is it a secret?
- Mona, London, 28/01/2010 16:41
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"Two separate commentary teams"!! Will the game really be that different with a bit of 3D that it needs different commentary??
- Joe S, London, 28/01/2010 15:27
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Wow. Which pubs are showing this??
- Nvl, Greater London, 28/01/2010 15:08
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Kev, London N1 - It wont matter what glasses are warn, gooners & mr wingher will always miss something controversial.
- Blind, London, 28/01/2010 13:24
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Can Sky supply extra-strong glasses (not rose-tinted) for all the gooners and their manager in case they miss something controversial again!
- Kev, London N1, 28/01/2010 12:10
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Urgent - which London bars will this be showing in?
- Grace Sobey, london, 28/01/2010 12:00
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So, where are these pubs?
- Paul Crompton, London, 28/01/2010 11:45
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Not convinced this will take off. surely you'd need a large TV to appreciate this like around the 50 inch mark. It's not like Movies where you don't have to talk to your mates as your entire concentration is on the film! This is not something the regular household can fit adequately in their living rooms. Could open up a whole new door to "watching the game" socially though... Sitting in a pub watching the game with the goggles on. turn to grab my pint, completely miss it, SMASH!
- Matt, London, 28/01/2010 11:30
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Watch for everyone ducking as the camera pans across all the pie munchers in the stands with their beer bellies straining against their replica shirts ...... Someone hasn't thought this through!
- Paul, London, 28/01/2010 09:28
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Fantastic, now I can really dodge footballers clearing their noses and spitting during the game.
- Steve, London, 28/01/2010 09:00
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