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BBC 3D London Olympics plans include one live sporting event, daily highlights
The Beeb has finally detailed its plans for 3D broadcasts during the London 2012 Olympic Games this summer, and unfortunately for fans of the technology, the content available for live viewing will be pretty limited. The BBC's site lists the Opening / Closing ceremonies and the men's 100m dash for its experimental coverage... and that's it. At the end of each day a "highlights package" will be available, but we're still not sure what other sports will be included yet. This approach harkens back to NBC's 24 hour tape delayed HD broadcasts of 2004, and according to director Roger Mosey, is mostly due to limited capacity. If the BBC is using one of its HD channels for the free-to-air 3D broadcast, then it takes away an HD channel for another event at the same time, so the ceremonies have the advantage of not blacking out any other coverage. In the US, it's possible things could be different if 3D broadcasts are made available on a dedicated events channel as Versus nee NBC SportsTalk has done before, but we'll wait to hear what NBC has planned and hope Usain Bolt doesn't false start again.
ESPN's new Monday Night Football deal includes 3D broadcasts, WatchESPN app
Just hours before the 2011 NFL season kicks off, the ESPN and the NFL announced a new eight year extension for Monday Night Football that runs from 2014 to 2021 and most notably to us, includes a provision for 3D broadcast rights. The new deal covers items from new studio programming (beginning this season) to availability of games on the WatchESPN mobile app to the Pro Bowl we still won't watch. According to the LA Times, the pricetag for ESPN -- before it's passed on to the cable / satellite company and eventually ends up on your bill in a rate increase -- is around $1.9 billion per season, up from $1.1 billion previously. While this should help quell ideas that ESPN 3D might be axed after its removal from U-verse, the bad news is it could still be a ways off, as we're told 3D broadcasts are expected when the extension takes effect in 2014. Sadly, 3D early adopters are probably used to waiting, with unbundled retail availability of Avatar still pending for 2012, this is just one more item to add to your calendar.
ESPN 3D doubles its college football coverage in year two
So far, college football is the jewel in ESPN 3D's broadcast schedule, and the network just released its broadcast plans for the 2011 season. The schedule for the 2011 season has increased to 20 regular season games and five bowl games, plus the BCS National Championship on January 9th. Things kick off with UNLV/Wisconsin on September 1st and Miami/Maryland September 5th, while some dates are still TBD. Hit the source link to see the full schedule, which will probably please ACC and Pac-10 fans, although we're not seeing many dates scheduled in the flyover states so most Big Ten (12?) fans should probably hold onto their tickets. Check out our review of last season's coverage, we'll keep some specs handy to see how things have changed in a year.
2012 London Olympics to feature 3D broadcasts from 10 venues?
There's no word from the official Olympics host broadcaster OBS, but equipment manufacturer EVS is already confirming the 2012 London Olympics will be covered in 3D. According to The Hollywood Reporter, at least 10 Olympic venues are on deck for 3D cameras with broadcasts for "a few of the main events" planned. In the UK the rights holder is the BBC who has already toyed with 3D broadcasts a bit, but it's hard to tell what that could mean here in the US. NBC has shown no inclination towards 3D itself, but it is owned by Comcast who has been more than willing to put special events produced by its (now part of NBC Sports) Versus channel in 3D from time to time. With the Olympic Games less than a year away we should hear more soon and, as the article remarks, have an idea how this might affect the sales of 3D-capable TVs around the world.
AT&T abruptly drops ESPN 3D from U-verse during the X-Games citing high price, low demand
Support by AT&T U-verse for the fledgling ESPN 3D channel always seemed halfhearted, while it was one of the providers to carry the channel at launch it was the only one at that time to levy a $10 fee for the privilege of viewing. The good news for subscribers is that $10 fee is gone, but the bad news is the channel has exited stage left along with it yesterday, before the last night of ESPN's big X-Games broadcast in 3D with no apparent warning. AT&T's reason for the move follows after the break, which lays out the case that even despite interested viewers chipping in their Hamiltons it has decided with there's not enough demand to support the "high cost" of ESPN 3D. Slow down on ringing the death knell for 3D everywhere however, since AT&T is still hanging onto its 3D VOD movies, for now. Its willingness to make the rare move of dropping one of the sports leaders offerings definitely speaks to the niche status of 3D, but experience suggests this comes down to a dollars and cents decision across the entire swath of the ever growing ESPN / ABC / Disney family. [Thanks, Larry]
ESPN 3D kicks off summer slate of Friday Night Fights tonight
Unlike Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas up there you probably don't have ringside accommodations at the Pechanga Resort Casino tonight, but if you believe coordinating producer Phil Orlins, having ESPN 3D is practically the same thing. After a dry run earlier this year that also served as a test for producing the 2D and 3D feed together, there have been several more nights added to the ESPN 3D schedule this summer and the Front Row blog has an interview with Orlins about some of the challenges and advantages caused by 3D. We'll tune in at 9 p.m., but 3D or not, we're thinking it'd all be more exciting if Haye beats Klitshcko or Mayweather stops ducking Pacquiao.
ESPN 3D gears up for year two with more college football, Home Run Derby and Little League
We had already learned a bit about ESPN 3D's summer schedule including X Games 17, but now that the NBA Finals are over, it's announced even more events as it moves into its second year of existence. VP Bryan Burns says we can expect 20 college football games to be aired in 3D this fall, up from 11 last year, including the BCS National Championship just like last season. also on the schedule is the MLB Home Run Derby (again) on July 11, some World Football Challenge soccer matches and a slew of Little League World Series games in August. As much as we enjoy watching the Danny Almontes and Terrelle Pryors of the world, we're all about the amateur sports, but it's been a year -- queue up some pro football and regular season baseball ESPN.
ESPN 3D preps for NBA Finals, adds new Friday Night Fights to the schedule
The NBA Finals kicks off tomorrow, and while the games will air in high definition on ABC, they will also air for the first time in 3D on ESPN 3D. If you prefer your sporting events sans-glasses there's plenty to look forward to: 32 HD cameras, six Super Slo-Mo cameras, a SkyCam and additional tweaks like ESPN Axis graphics. We'd still prefer to swap Mike Breen for Marv Albert and whatever intro music they have planned for John Tesh's Roundball Rock, but that's just us. The 3D broadcast will be held down by Mark Jones and either Bruce Bowen or Tim Legler calling the action. Of course, the fantastic playoffs we've experienced will come to an end eventually, but to fill in the summer sports slate until the X Games, ESPN 3D has also plans to air five Friday Night Fights matches over the summer. Check the press releases after the break for the dates and details, we'll be hunting down our 3D specs.
ESPN X Games 17 returns with more than double the 3D coverage, takes rally racing to the streets
ESPN has released some of the broadcast details for Summer X Games 17, scheduled to occur between July 28th - 31st, and it's increasing from eight hours of 3D coverage last year to a planned 18 hours this time around. Interestingly, the HD schedule has been shortened slightly from 31 hours to 25, but there's still plenty of sports action to catch, including a new Enduro X motocross competition and a move to the streets of downtown Los Angeles for the Rally racing competitions. Check all the details currently available in the press release after the break, we're going to go find and wash our Travis Pastrana jersey.
ESPN 3D exec explains why golf is such a good fit for the network
With the second consecutive year of the Masters Tournament being broadcast in 3D, if you're wondering why golf and 3D are such a good match look no further than ESPN 3D coordinating producer Phil Orlin's post on the new Front Row blog. He points out the varying terrain of the golf course and the ability to accurately read greens as reasons why 3D works so well at Augusta, and that watching it that way is the closest thing to seeing it in person. You can see for yourself when 3D coverage of the tournament kicks off today at 5 p.m., and while we're sure more people will be watching than did last year the question is still how many?
Ecclestone proclaims no 3D broadcasts for F1 as the sport prepares for HDTV this weekend
If you thought that the upcoming debut (delayed after Bahrain withdrew due to unrest in the region, leaving Australia on the 27th) of Formula 1 racing in high definition this weekend would finally put an end to Bernie Ecclestone commenting about broadcast technology, you were wrong. According to PitPass, the F1 chief said "I've always said 3D will never be used," when asked about it recently. This, despite LG's tests of the technology last year and curious declaration by Korean provider SingTel that it will actually broadcast races in 3D this year, according to Crave Asia. Of course, this is the same guy who claimed we would have to wait until 2012 for HD, but the article also notes he may have a personal objection to the technology due to being blind in one eye. We haven't seen any footage of F1 action in 3D yet, but after the long, long wait for F1 HDTV broadcasts, we wouldn't expect it to lead the way in other formats regardless of any potential health issues.
ESPN 3D will launch on Verizon FiOS April 5
After being the first with 3D pro football Verizon's 3D lineup on FiOS was looking pretty thin, but that changes next month when it will finally start offering ESPN 3D. We've been anticipating its launch since last October, but after ESPNNetworks online streaming it was apparently next in line. The early adopting 3D-capable TV owners near you who subscribe to the Ultimate HD package will see it added to their lineups for no charge, but like U-Verse, it's a $10 add-on for all others. Make decisions regarding those Hamilton's quickly, next on the schedule are the Masters and NBA Playoffs, check the press release after the break for all the details.
UFC on Versus 3 will be in 3D March 3
MMA should get its first 3D broadcast this week, as SportsBusinessDaily reports the UFC on Versus 3 event will be available in 3D. It seems fair to assume availability should match other Versus 3D events like the outdoor hockey game and Cal/Oregon college football so check your provider to see if it's on the schedule (Comcast, Cox, Verizon, Massillon Cable, Blue Ridge and Armstrong are confirmed so far) for March 3. As far as the quality, we're interested to see how the camera placement may be affected and if there's any difference in the out of the ring shots since there's a cage between the viewers and the fighters. Watching the HD broadcast? Versus has announced it will continue its technique of running some between-round ads in a PiP box while the broadcast of fighters coming to the ring continues on the rest of the screen.
ESPN 3D adds the NBA Finals to its broadcast schedule
Take that Mark Cuban. Everyone's favorite HD network owning billionaire called 3D sports DOA after deciding there weren't many people asking about a 3D Super Bowl, but now ESPN's 3D network has queued up its second championship of the year, adding the NBA Finals to its previously scheduled slate of regular season and playoff broadcasts. ESPN 3D has been broadcasting around the clock for a few days now (unless you're watching DirecTV) but while repeats make for easy demo material, if 3D is going to go from an interesting sideshow to an in-demand feature it will take more high profile events like these. If the Mavericks manage to slide past the Lakers or Spurs for a deep playoff run, we'll check back with our friend Mark to see how he'd watch the game if he didn't already have a few seats permanently staked out in the arena.
ESPN 3D is bringing five days of Masters coverage in April
In 2010, the annual Masters golf tournament was the jumping off point for 3D sports broadcasts when Comcast featured it, and this year it will have an even wider 3D audience by being featured for all five days on ESPN 3D. The plan is for two hours of coverage each day beginning with the Par 3 contest on Wednesday April 6 through Sunday between 5-7 p.m. As usual, ESPN's also doing its HD thing for the PAr 3 contest and first two days of the tournament with 4.5 hours of coverage a day just like it has since '08, but we'll be most interested to see just how much the prospective audience has grown since last spring.
n3D brings Formula DRIFT action home February 4th
The next special event scheduled for DirecTV's n3D channel is the season finale of Formula Drift, Round 7: Title Fight. Recorded last October at Toyota Speedway, the two one hour specials will cover the action on the track as well as interviews with drivers like Tanner Foust (more details in the press release after the break.) Just a note Formula 1: You're officially behind again.
ESPN kicks off Winter X Games 15 broadcasts in HD, 3D & on mobiles tomorrow
After kicking off its original 3D productions with X Games 16 last summer and airing X Games 3D The Movie back in '09, ESPN is preparing to cover Winter X Games 15 all weekend across its various platforms as well. The schedule is set for 24 hours of HD sports broadcasts on ESPN and ESPN2, while ESPN 3D is set up for 18 hours of action across nine individual windows. ESPN3 is also getting in on the action with 34 hours of coverage including 10 hours of exclusive coverage and streaming video, while ESPN Mobile TV is carrying 23 hours of coverage and owners of Android or iOS devices can snag the Winter X Games app for even more information. Along with 56 HD cameras and 13 3D cameras, the I-Movix ultra slow motion camera from the Beijing Olympics will be back in action as the Mega Mo providing replays captured at 4500 frames per second. Check the press releases after the break for more details and all the schedules and the above ESPN 3D spot.
Golf Channel brings the Sony Open in 3D to multiple providers this weekend
When we first learned the 2011 Sony Open would be shot in 3D it seemed hard to imagine anyone would be broadcasting live 3D sports by then, but now it's practically commonplace. Multichannel News points out six providers confirmed to carry Golf Channel's live 3D feed on Saturday and Sunday (check after the break for airtimes) including Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Cox Communications, Shaw Communications and Rogers Communications, while Telus also mentioned on its Twitter feed that it would carry the event. As usual, if your carrier has been in on previous Versus-like 3D events, we'd expect it on the same channel but check your local listings.
NHL Winter Classic game will be in 3D New Year's Day, find out where to watch
Whether or not you've been keeping up with HBO's 24/7 episodes, most hockey fans know that the yearly outdoor Winter Classic is scheduled for tomorrow between the Penguins and Capitals, but you may not know it will also be broadcast in 3D (the second one this season.) According to the NHL's page it will be available "worldwide" and we've confirmed Comcast, Cox, DirecTV, Cablevision Shaw and Telus are on the list. They're likely not the only ones, with Versus broadcasting if your provider has a dedicated 3D event channel and the sports network (especially if they broadcast the Oregon/Cal football game earlier this fall) it's a good bet it will be on but we'd check with them first. Here's hoping that next time around (the Heritage Classic game in February will be in 3D too) there's a slightly more coordinated effort to let those who might be interested in watching know where and how to tune in.
Retailer's 3D Demo Days, new Pirates movie trailer highlight ESPN 3D's first NBA game
We're just a few hours away from the first NBA game on ESPN 3D when the Heat face the Knicks at 7 p.m. at Madison Square Garden, and now ESPN has announced it will have the "television premiere" of the 3D trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides during the broadcast. While we wonder if that will become a trend for the network to show off 3D trailers for the slew of movies coming to theaters in the future, those who haven't bought a 3D capable TV but do want to see how the broadcast looks may want to check out one of the retailers (Best Buy, among others) participating in the CEA's Demo Days, coming back this weekend just in time for the game. Of course, that may mean choosing between Lebron vs. Amare and The Engadget Show tonight, but we're sure you'll make the right decision.
