Digital TV News

ESPN to broadcast World Cup games in 3D

Thursday 7 January, 2010

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

Footy fans in the US will be able to watch this year’s World Cup in 3D after sports broadcaster ESPN unveils plans to show 25 live games on a dedicated 3D channel.

American sports network ESPN has revealed plans to broadcast some of the World Cup 2010 matches in 3D, on a new US channel, ESPN 3D.

ESPN 3D will be launched in America this summer and will show a minimum of 85 live sporting events during its first year, kicking off with the first World Cup game on 11 June, between the tournament host South Africa and Mexico.

“ESPN 3D marries great content with new technology to enhance the fan’s viewing experience and puts ESPN at the forefront of the next big advance for TV viewing,” said ESPN president George Bodenheimer.

At least 24 other games from the World Cup will be shown in 3D, and viewers will have to wear special glasses to watch the matches properly.

ESPN has not yet said how it plans to make the new 3D technology available to its subscribers in the UK.

Disney-owned ESPN won the rights to air live Premier League games in Britain after Irish sports broadcaster Setanta went into administration last summer.

Jon Ingram, operations director at Digitalchoices.co.uk said: “This latest development in 3D TV is another indication that the technology that has revolutionised the cinema, with films such as Avatar and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, is going to be coming to our living rooms very soon.”

Ingram added: “We’ll be keeping our eye on the ball, so to speak, and keep you updated if ESPN plan to launch the 3D channel in the UK. Be sure to sign-up to our RSS feed for all the latest digital TV news.”

Last September satellite TV giant Sky also unveiled plans to launch a dedicated 3D channel.