Monday Night Football Coming in 3D on ESPN3D

"Get with the program"

Tim here. That's right, Monday Night Football! This was the most exciting news to come out of the 3D Summit last week. Bryan Burns, Vice President Strategic Business Planning and Development for ESPN, broke the news to us after showing a clip of fan reactions to watching games in 3D on 3DTVs placed in bars. One person said, "My next TV purchase will be a 3DTV. I watch more sports than any other program." This is an eight-year, $15.2 billion, deal made with the National Football League!

This also was announced after a little rumor was started by a press writer that ESPN would be closing their doors. The rumor spread rapidly, but it wasn't true and two days the Monday Night Football announcement came. Mr. Burns pointed out that this was another example of an opportunistic reporter using 3D negativity and bashing to attract readers to their unfounded reporting in order to propel themselves. (Writer's note that several others had made similar comments about the presses negativity throughout the summit.)

Sadly we have to wait for 2014 when ESPN's rights pick up distribution, but that's plenty of time for you to go get your 3DTV! As Mr. Burns put it, "We're not playing defense, but instead we've got the ball and are driving down the field."

Great Feedback From Live S3D Football Yesterday!!

Jim here. Looks like there is some great word of mouth happening about yesterday's football match between Manchester United and Arsenal!

Manchester United beat Arsenal 3-1.

UK fans had this to say (via Mirror.co.uk): Lifelong Arsenal fan Alan Howe, 66, who watched the game at a pub in the capital, said: "I have HD at home and I thought nothing could get better than that. But this certainly is. It's mind-boggling."

United fan Josie Haigh, 28, a solicitor from Huddersfield,West Yorks, said: "It's amazing. The close-up shots are really good. It feels like you are being sucked into the screen."

Ben Smart, 27, a Man U supporter from Leeds, said: "What a game. It feels even better to win in 3D."

The identity of the nine pubs in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Dublin where the game was shown in 3D had been kept top secret so that they weren't swamped by fans.

Sky (with 3D services from 3ality Digital) says 3D home sets will be on the market in the next six months. Companies hope to sell sets costing between £700 and £1,000 ($1100 and $1600).

...And fans from Scotland (via news.scotsman.com): James Wright, 34, who travelled across from Falkirk for the match, said: "It's fantastic. With that sort of depth it feels like you're actually there as opposed to watching it on the telly. It gives the impression that the TV is about 500 miles long."

Andrew Christie, 37, also from Falkirk, said: "The close-up, mid-range shots were really effective."

And Deborah Morrison, 24, from Livingston said she could see herself getting really into football matches for the first time after experiencing the beautiful game in 3D. She said: "I've never been that interested in watching the footy but this made the atmosphere really effective."

This is great news indeed! While there was one report of a newspaper not liking it (metro.co.uk), it was very evasive in trying to explain why. I find those reports to be on the "contrary makes news" side of things as clearly patrons loved it (there were no quotes in the Metro piece from customers at all - just the lone reporter). Thanks for the heads up Matthew!

I take this all as a hearty endorsement of the format and venue possibilities! The screens will get larger of course (these screenings were on 47" LG S3DHD TVs - though Sky cannot air in true HD yet in 3D for both eyes). So if you lean more towards theatrical live 3D sports or those shown in pubs, it is not hard to see the parallax... err, parellel between them all - FUN! Stay tuned for more!!

Manchester United Vs. Arsenal... In S3DHD This Sunday In UK Pubs!!

**UPDATE: Jan 30 - The game will be shot with 3ality Digital's camera platforms and image processing software!

Jim here. Wow - this should kick start things! Not only is the BBC's rugby match (England Vs. Wales) being broadcast live to theaters across the UK next weekend, but now there is football! Manchester United and Arsenal will be battling it out via a stereoscopic 3D HD live broadcast of the football match on Sky Sports new S3DHD channel!! The difference is the BBC's rugby will be in theaters and Sky's will be in pubs on S3DHD TVs.

All of the football action is happening this Sunday in the UK with a limited selection of nine pubs outfitted with LG 47" LD920 S3DHD TVs (this is a actually a sneak peak - they won't be released until April). The pubs are located in London, Manchester, Cardiff and Edinburgh. April will see the launch of the S3DHD channel in HUNDREDS of UK pubs.

Further, the Sky 3D S3DHD channel will offer 3D movies, other sports, documentaries and other entertainment later in the year, along with the BBC's S3DHD efforts. It is important to note that the 3D content is available to Sky+HD subscribers for NO extra cost - initially at least. To read a FAQ about the channel, click here.

The pub locations are NOT being announced to control crowds and to allow regular patrons of the pubs to enjoy the game.

Says Sky Spokesman: “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 purpose built 3D outside broadcast truck, which will enable live mixing between camera positions, slow motion replays and the use of innovative 3D graphics. There will also be a dedicated commentary team to support the 3D edit.”

As you know, The World Cup will also be shot in S3DHD this summer. And of course ESPN will have a their own S3DHD channel starting in June with their broadcast of the World Cup game between South Africa and Mexico.

My question is: Where is the NFL? Why haven't we heard from these guys yet? Even NBA or MLB action would look awesome in S3D. Hard to name a sport that wouldn't, actually. Now is the time guys to start ramping up for the 2011 SUPER BOWL in S3DHD! It is time for an official announcement :-)

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