BSkyB to launch Sky 3D on 3 April


19 Mar 2010

Europe’s first 3D TV channel Sky 3D will launch on Saturday 3 April with the Manchester United and Chelsea Premier League match as the first show broadcast.

BSkyB promises live 3D broadcasts of at least a further five Premier League games before the end of the current season (Sunday 9 May) as well as the Coca-Cola Football League Play-Off Finals from Wembley Stadium at the end of May.

More than 1,000 pubs around Ireland and the UK have already signed up for the 3D TV service, which will be showing not only sports but also a wide range of other programming that will run at certain selected times throughout the day.

This programming will be available to residential customers who subscribe to Sky’s top channels and HD pack.

“It’s fitting that one of the biggest games of the season will be the launch pad for our pioneering Sky 3D service. With 3D, seeing really is believing, so it’s great news that over a thousand pubs across country will be able to show the magic of 3D to their customers,” said Brian Lenz, Sky’s director of product design and TV product development.

Also next month, Samsung is to begin selling its 3D TV screens here in Ireland, with LG, Panasonic and Sony to follow at some point this year.

By Marie Boran

Photo: Europe’s first 3D TV channel Sky 3D will launch on Saturday 3 April