Sky 3D Gives Arsenal vs Manchester United New Dimension

Premiership clash first live football to be shown in 3D to the public.

Broadcasters Sky will break new ground in sports entertainment this weekend as they show off the potential of 3D TV with a special preview of Arsenal vs Manchester United in Sunday’s Premier League clash.

James Cameron’s Avatar has shown what 3D can achieve in cinema, with stunning visuals that have dazzled over 76 million people worldwide. The 3D effects of Avatar pushed Cameron’s fantasy epic past Titanic to become the highest grossing movie ever, with $1.859 billion made at the box office and growing.

Now Sky want to push the limits of 3D in sports by introducing what it claims is the first ever transmission of a live sports event in 3D.

Sky’s director of strategic product development Gerry O’Sullivan told Sky Sports News: “People have already embraced 3D cinema and because Sky’s 3D services uses the same kind of technology, we’re confident there will be demand for sport, movies, concerts and drama in 3D.”

Nine pubs in the UK and Ireland – in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Dublin – have been specially selected to host the 3D screenings. The test run will pave the way for 3D matches shown in pubs each week at hundreds of establishments from April onwards.

“People will get a sense that they are looking through a window right into the game, a portal into the Emirates with the best seats in the house. It is going to become a must-have, a must-want,” Brian Lenz, BSkyB’s director of product design told The Guardian.

As 3D sport takes off, England rugby sponsors O2 announced that two England games against Wales and Ireland will be shown live in 3D at this year’s Six Nations tournament at 40 cinemas around the country.