ESPN 3D goes international, brings X Games 16 to Australia's Foxtel and Austar
The debut of X Games 16 and its 8 hours of live 3D broadcast is nearly upon us, and for the first time in ESPN 3D's short history, viewers outside the US will be able to get a look at the action. The lucky country is Australia (already known for being ahead of the curve on 3D) and it appears that AUSTAR won't be content letting Foxtel take the lead like it did with HD, since both will have the network on channel 206 on Friday, July 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. AEST and Sunday, August 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. AEST. All iQ2 and MyStar HD subs (with 3DTVs of course) should have access to the channel -- check the press release after the break for any other details and prepare for some morning extreme sports with your toast & baked beans.
Show full PR text
ESPN 3D to Telecast X Games 16 to Australia
For the first time, ESPN 3D will telecast outside the United States. ESPN 3D, in conjunction with FOXTEL and AUSTAR in Australia, will provide extreme sports fans eight hours of coverage from X Games 16 in Los Angeles, California. Fans in Australia can look forward to seeing the best in action sports compete on Friday, July 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. AEST and Sunday, August 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. AEST on channel 206 on FOXTEL and AUSTAR. (Fans in the United States will see this programming on Thursday, July 29 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET and on Saturday, Aug. 1 from 7 p.m. until Midnight ET.) During these telecasts ESPN 3D will debut new 3D cameras, including a 3D camera from inside a rally car, providing a driver's point of view. ESPN 3D's telecast of X Games 16 in Australia will be available to all FOXTEL iQ2 and AUSTAR MyStar HD subscribers with a 3D ready television.
"Extending ESPN 3D to Australia reinforces our commitment to provide fans worldwide the best quality sports programming," said Michael Morrison, Vice President, ESPN International Asia Pacific. "3D television has taken off in the United States and around the world and this provides ESPN 3D an outstanding opportunity to work with FOXTEL and AUSTAR in Australia to bring this exciting trial programming to Australian sports fans."
FOXTEL's Director of Sport Pete Campbell said "FOXTEL was the first to bring Australians 3D television and we're thrilled to partner with ESPN for another ground-breaking sport experience."
AUSTAR's Deanne Weir, Group Director of Corporate Development & Legal Affairs, said, " Following our groundbreaking 3D broadcast earlier this year, we're pleased that regional Australians will benefit once again from the fantastic coverage of the X Games on ESPN 3D."
ESPN 3D X Games 16 facts:
* ESPN 3D will utilize 14 native 3D cameras to capture action at the Los Angeles Coliseum
* Utilize the 3D Mega Mo camera, an ultra slo-mo camera that debuted at the Home Run Derby
* First live use of wireless (RF) 3D cameras, one of which will be an in-car camera used during Rally Car competition
* One pole camera placed near the skate/BMX mega ramp
* ESPN 3D will be hosted by Keir Dillon, a veteran X Games announcer and two-time Winter X Games snowboard superpipe medalist
* ESPN 3D will provide eight hours of coverage over the first and third day of X Games 16
About ESPN 3D:
ESPN was the first to announce in the United States an exclusive 3D network in January 2010 which was the culmination of more than three years of testing 3D television. ESPN has produced several 3D domestic telecasts, including the State Farm Home Run Derby in July 2010, the Masters in April 2010, a Harlem Globetrotters game in February 2010 and in 2009 the USC vs. Ohio State college football game. ESPN has developed best practices for utilizing the technology in live game applications which have provided the ability to streamline workflow operations, adjust 3D camera positioning, perform transmission tests and gauge fan reaction to a 3D telecast versus a traditional telecast. In addition, ESPN utilizes cutting-edge technology located at the ESPN Innovation Lab in Orlando at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World to continue to develop innovative production enhancements. ESPN 3D is available in the United States to approximately 45 million households and has carriage agreements with DirecTV, Comcast and AT&T. Sony was named the first official sponsor of the network in January 2010.
