Digital TV News

3D TV channel heading to Sky

Thursday 29 July, 2010

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

Want to watch 3D movie blockbusters Avatar and Alice in Wonderland at home? 3D TV is coming to British living rooms from 1 October.

Sky (www.sky.co.uk), Britain’s largest satellite TV provider, will make its dedicated 3D channel available to subscribers on 1 October.

The ground-breaking channel, which was initially made available in over 1,500 pubs and clubs around the UK earlier this year, will be available for free to consumers with a Sky+HD set-top box that subscribe to the provider’s Sky World package and the HD viewing pack.

Viewers will also have to have a compatible 3D glasses and a 3D TV set, which can now be purchased from retailers such as John Lewis from as little as £1,199.

Sky’s chief executive, Jeremy Darroch, said: “As with high-definition, 3D is set to transform the way TV is enjoyed in homes nationwide. Sky customers will now be the first anywhere in Europe to experience 3D TV from the comfort of their living rooms.”

Enjoy Sky 3D TV at home from 1 October

He added that customers “can look forward to a fantastic mix of live sport, blockbuster movies, and innovative entertainment and arts shows.”

During its launch weekend, sports fans will be able to watch 3D coverage of the Ryder Cup, and movie lovers can watch films such as Bolt and Monsters vs Aliens.

Sky said it will expand the programmes shown on the channel in the run-up to Christmas, offering a wide range of sports and movies, such as Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and Alice in Wonderland, all in 3D.

The Sky World pack costs £51 a month, and gives subscribers all six Sky viewing packs plus all the Sky Movies and Sky Sports channels. The HD pack costs £10 extra a month.

Michael Phillips, product director at Digitalchoices.co.uk, said: “The cost of getting ‘3D ready TV’ is not inconsiderable, but the choice of content is pretty limited at the moment.

“I expect 3D TV to be a hit with the technology-obsessed and early adopters for some time before it really takes off and we see mainstream programmes broadcast in 3D.”