DirecTV quickly signs up the first baseball 3D broadcast
After being left out of the Masters 3D presentation, DirecTV isn't missing out on this one. It's teaming up with FSN Northwest and YES Network to bring home two games between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners on July 10 and 11, although they will only be viewable by customers in the normal home footprint of both sports networks. Unfortunately it looks like the flyover states will miss out on the games, but those with a 3DTV and DirecTV will already have enjoyed plenty of World Cup action, and can look forward to the All-Star Game on July 13. Multichannel News indicates YES Network COO Ray Hopkins said other networks will have the "opportunity" to cut deals regarding the games, so if you're on another broadcaster but live in the home areas there's a possibility you will see them as well. Expect six to eight 3D camera angles, including a few from lower than usual positioning, to bring the game home. Whether it's an exclusive or not for a couple of regular season games probably isn't that big of a deal, but it will be interesting to see which, if any, of the other broadcasters snap up ESPN 3D ahead of the World Cup next month.
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YES Network, FSN Northwest and DIRECTV to Take Viewers 'Deep' With First-Ever 3D MLB Telecast
YES Networks' July 10 and July 11 Yankees-Mariners Games to Be Telecast in 3D to DIRECTV Customers
NEW YORK, May 5, 2010 –– YES Network, FSN Northwest and DIRECTV will present the first-ever Major League Baseball telecasts in 3D on Saturday, July 10, and Sunday, July 11, when the New York Yankees take on the Seattle Mariners. DIRECTV and Panasonic will be presenting sponsors of the two 3D telecasts.
The historic 3D broadcasts from Safeco Field in Seattle, will be made available to DIRECTV HD customers who have 3D TV sets and live within the YES "home team footprint," which includes all of New York State and Connecticut, north and central New Jersey, and northeast Pennsylvania. The 3D telecasts will also air live within the FSN Northwest footprint, including the entire states of Washington, Oregon, Alaska and parts of Montana and Idaho. The Saturday, July 10, game telecast will begin at 10:00 p.m. ET, and the Sunday, July 11, game telecast will begin at 4:00 p.m. ET. YES and FSN Northwest will both also produce their traditional HD telecasts of both games.
"Our latest collaboration with DIRECTV reflects our commitment to explore new technologies which further immerse viewers in our telecasts," said Ray Hopkins, COO, YES Network. "These revolutionary telecasts speak to the power of the Yankees brand and strengthen YES' leadership position in terms of bringing new viewer enhancements to market."
"We're proud to team up with YES to produce a unique, depth-defying look at the sport of baseball in 3D that will put the viewer right in the middle of the action," said Eric Shanks, executive vice president of Entertainment for DIRECTV. "Like interactive TV and HD, 3D has the potential to completely transform the way we watch sports."
Beginning this June, DIRECTV HD customers will receive a free software upgrade enabling them to have access to dedicated 3D channels on DIRECTV, which will include N3D™ powered by Panasonic, ESPN 3D, a 3D DIRECTV Cinema™ channel and a 3D DIRECTV on DEMAND channel. DIRECTV HD customers will need a 3D television set and 3D glasses to view 3D programming on DIRECTV.
