Engadget

Sky considering launching Sky Sports 3D, one channel too small for three dimensions

Daniel Cooper — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 03:02:00 EST

Sky is reportedly considering splitting its stereoscopic programming into separate Sports and Entertainment channels as its content stable swells. Speaking to Pocket-lint, movie bosses Simon Rexworthy and Ian Lewis confirmed that they don't have enough time in the schedules unless sporting coverage is hived off to a distinct "Sky Sports 3D". After the split, Sky 3D would only broadcast films, factual and TV content, with the caveat that they're prioritizing quality over quantity. Lewis mentioning that one recently-released flick has been blacklisted from the service after making the testers sick, although he neglected to mention its title.

Sky considering launching Sky Sports 3D, one channel too small for three dimensions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 03:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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London 2012 Olympics to get live 3D coverage from Eurosport and Sky 3D

Richard Lawler — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:30:00 EST

Didn't score a ticket to the 2012 Olympics in London this summer? If you're in the UK at least you can still catch the games live and in 3D, since even though the BBC is tape delaying its 3D coverage, there will be live action available on the dedicated Sky 3D channel from Eurosport. There's no word on what other carriers or regions may have access, but those two are promising over 100 hours of 3D action over the course of the games, with eight hours of live coverage alongside four hours of highlights. That's enough to cover events including the opening and closing ceremonies, men's 100m dash final, gymnastics, swimming, basketball and more. Also, Sky plans to open up the channel to all of its current HD subscribers during the Games instead of just the current 250,000 subscribers, so all you'll need to bring is a 3D-ready HDTV and glasses (maybe). There's a press release after the break with all the details currently available, and also Stephen Fry's introduction to the channel for no reason other than that it's Stephen Fry.

Continue reading London 2012 Olympics to get live 3D coverage from Eurosport and Sky 3D

London 2012 Olympics to get live 3D coverage from Eurosport and Sky 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Attenborough to produce Galapagos islands documentary for Sky 3D, be really British

Chris Barylick — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:21:00 EST

A living British treasure makes a 3D documentary that much better. On Thursday, the Sky television network announced that Sir David Attenborough will be embarking on his fourth 3D project with Sky, a three-part natural history series centering on the Galapagos islands. Galapagos 3D, which is set to air on Sky 3D in late 2012, will be written and presented by Attenborough and follows several successful collaborations between Sky and Atlantic Productions, including the BAFTA-winning Flying Monsters 3D, The Bachelor King 3D (which airs on New Year's Eve) and Kingdom of Plants 3D, a series based at Kew Gardens (due to air on Sky 3D next year). The series will include both micro and macro filming on location as well 3D visual effects which discuss both the Galapagos islands and the forces that helped shape them. In other news, David Attenborough really likes hanging around thousands of sea birds, and if there's a windbreaker he can wear while doing it, then he's set.

Continue reading David Attenborough to produce Galapagos islands documentary for Sky 3D, be really British

David Attenborough to produce Galapagos islands documentary for Sky 3D, be really British originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sky's 3D TV channel launches in the UK

Donald Melanson — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:28:00 EST

You've seen it explained by none other than Stephen Fry and -- if you're in the UK, that is -- you can now finally check out Sky's brand new 3D TV channel for yourself. That's the first such channel in the UK, and it will be broadcasting a range of programming from movies to football (also known as "soccer" to some) for 14 hours a day -- it kicks things off today with the Ryder Cup. To get the channel, however, you'll have to sign up for the top-end Sky World HD package, which will run you £61, or about $96 a month. Need a bit of a refresher on this whole 3D business? Head on past the break for Mr. Fry's video.

Continue reading Sky's 3D TV channel launches in the UK

Sky's 3D TV channel launches in the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sky 3D enlists Stephen Fry to explain the technology ahead of its October 1 launch (video)

Richard Lawler — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:49:00 EST

With the official launch of Sky 3D to UK home viewers just days away, the broadcaster's bringing in the big guns. Sure, we've tried explaining the latest in 3D technology ourselves, but it requires a special touch to claim to have invented 3D and still come off as infallibly polite at the same time. For that, you need a professional, and who better than Stephen Fry? If you weren't first in line at the shoppes to buy a 3DTV this video probably won't turn you into a believer right away -- checking in to your local pub for a pint and a Premier League game is a more effective route -- but it's an entertaining preview all the same. The video is embedded after the break and in case this alarm clock showing up on the site, twice, wasn't enough of a clue, we'll feature nearly anything with Stephen Fry involved, especially when he kicks it off by saying "Hello, Engadget."

Continue reading Sky 3D enlists Stephen Fry to explain the technology ahead of its October 1 launch (video)

Sky 3D enlists Stephen Fry to explain the technology ahead of its October 1 launch (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sky 3D channel comes home October 1 with Ryder Cup, EPL, movies and more

Richard Lawler — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:02:00 EST

The Sky 3D channel has so far been officially available only in 1,500 or so UK pubs, but now its residential launch for all Sky+HD customers is slated for October 1. The 2010 Ryder Cup will serve as a launch event with three days of live coverage from Celtic Manor as the US and European teams do battle; the first ever in 3D, but the third such event it's covered in high definition. Golf fans won't be the only ones catered to, Premier League football will be returning once the season starts and today's announcement coincided with a SkyArts 3D filming arranged by the English National Ballet. Hollywood's major studios have already agreed to provide 3D movies including Bolt, Monsters vs. Aliens, Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince and more, while Sky has commissioned its own original 3D flick, Flying Monsters presented by Sir David Attenborough. Not quite ready for the 3D revolution? Feel free to put that on the backburner -- at least until the 2012 London Olympics -- as the network is also adding content from HBO, a large slate of new comedies, Anytime+ VOD, and a Sky Mobile TV iPad app. With an HD channel count of 43 and plans to reach 50 by year-end, there should be a little something there for everyone to enjoy.

Continue reading Sky 3D channel comes home October 1 with Ryder Cup, EPL, movies and more

Sky 3D channel comes home October 1 with Ryder Cup, EPL, movies and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Three for 3D: ESPN 3D adds Home Run Derby, Sky 3D launches 4/3, AcTVila makes the jump this summer

Richard Lawler — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 06:29:00 EST

Three continents, three more milestone announcements for 3D. First up is Sky TV, which, with or without 15,000 or so flat screens from LG, is officially launching its Sky 3D channel around the Man. U/Chelsea game on April 3. Already have a 3DTV and Sky's "top channels and HD pack?" Call the company with details for activation, while everyone else checks to see if their local pub is among the thousand plus already signed up to receive the six live 3D matches slated for this season (plus the Coca Cola league playoff finals) and demo reel for all non-footy hours of the day. Bringing the focus back home, ESPN 3D has scheduled the first event it will produce and air itself, the MLB Home Run Derby on July 12, a day after launching with the SA/Mexico World Cup game. Other events officially on deck (the plan for the first year is still about 85) include several college basketball tournaments and the ACC Championship football game in December. Last but not least is Japan, already home to at least one 3D network, which will soon have access to even more over the cross-manufacturer AcTVila video on-demand service. Clearly, the only logical thing to do is to keep that "3D will never take off" comment macro keyed up, it will be getting a lot of use over the next few months.

Three for 3D: ESPN 3D adds Home Run Derby, Sky 3D launches 4/3, AcTVila makes the jump this summer originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Mar 2010 06:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Inaugural Sky 3DTV soccer broadcast received warmly, hooligans opt for Michael Jackson & the Grammys instead

Richard Lawler — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:31:00 EST

While U.S. audiences suffered through yet another anaglyph 3D broadcast as the Grammys presented Earth Song in traditional red/blue format courtesy of Target-distributed glasses, Sky kicked off its first true 3DTV broadcast across the pond during a Man. U/Arsenal match. Distributed to a few select pubs ahead of a wide rollout due in April, patrons slipped on passive 3D glasses and caught the entire match live from Emirates stadium. Luckily this experiment went over far better than the Dallas Cowboys disaster, though several criticized the need to remain more directly in front of the monitor to see the action and that the effect was less pronounced on long shots. However the new tech excelled the most during close ups and slow motion, as Pocket-Lint quoted viewer Kate Cobley "It's brilliant, the corner and back of the goal views are just amazing. It makes the game so much better. If it's in 3D then I would definitely be more likely to come to the pub to watch sport." We figure the real test will come during the World Cup this summer, if ESPN's 3DTV broadcast can get U.S. audiences tuning into the beautiful game then 3D may actually live up to all the CES hype. Until then check the read and more coverage links for a few more impressions, or the video embedded after the break.

Continue reading Inaugural Sky 3DTV soccer broadcast received warmly, hooligans opt for Michael Jackson & the Grammys instead

Inaugural Sky 3DTV soccer broadcast received warmly, hooligans opt for Michael Jackson & the Grammys instead originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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3D TV coming to British pubs this weekend, can expect chilly reception

Vlad Savov — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:28:00 EST

Imagine, if you will, the quintessential British pub. A pair of elderly chaps sitting in the quiet corner discussing their best Spitfire manoeuvers, the teenage whippersnapper putting on a mature voice and trying to buy alcohol at the bar, and the inevitable legion of sports fans setting up for their weekly life or death football match. Now put 3D glasses on 'em -- doesn't work, does it? Sky TV is hoping its launch of 3D content around UK drinking establishments will be a runaway success, whereas we're just hoping those glasses aren't too hard to clean up after being inevitably discarded with disdain. Nine pubs will be broadcasting the Arsenal versus Manchester United match in 3D this Sunday, with a full rollout in April.

3D TV coming to British pubs this weekend, can expect chilly reception originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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