Sky+HD is the only UK HD service capable of broadcasting 3D TV, and with HD subscriber numbers growing all the time 2010 is set to be the year of 3D HDTV. Sky's first experiment took place in April 2009 when they broadcast a gig by Keane from Abbey Road studios in 3D, and more recently in January 2010 a match between Arsenal and Manchester Utd was seen in 3D by fans in nine selected UK pubs (although trivia fans should note the first football game Sky shot in 3D was Fulham vs Sunderland on December 5th 2009). In 2011 another 3D channel is to be launched as a joint venture between the Discovery Channel, Sony and Imax but only in the USA, and in June 2010 the sports channel ESPN is also entering the world of 3D with a channel dedicated to live sports events (rather than repeats) - again in the USA.
How does it work?
The 3D technology adopted by Sky is based on polarisation, where filming is done with two cameras at approximately the same width apart as the eyes and produces a separate stream of images for the left and the right eye. The images are then projected from an LCD screen using polarised filters which, in conjunction with the polarised 3D glasses worn by the viewer, time the images in such a precise way that they are seen only by the eye for which they are intended.
What will be shown in 3D?
One of the initial problems with 3D TV will, of course, be lack of content, but this is a problem which will solve itself providing the uptake of 3D is sufficiently widespread. When Sky roll out the service to domestic customers (after a trial in pubs) it will feature selected content from their Sports, Movies, Arts, Music and Entertainment channels as well as pay-per-view movies and events.
What will I need?
As well as a Sky+HD Box and the £10 a month Sky HD subscription, viewers will need the 3D glasses and, most importantly, a 3D television.
The 3D glasses are not quite so outlandish-looking as some of their predecessors, looking more like a pair of slightly larger-than-normal shades, and they can be worn over a regular pair of glasses too. They will be powered by a small battery or rechargeable via a USB port and will probably cost somewhere in the region of £35 a pair. Samsung has recently announced glasses to be sold alongside its range of 3D TVs which will be available in adult and child sizes and in both battery and USB versions. They estimate a battery life of 25 hours for the USB goggles and 50 hours for the battery powered version.
The centrepiece of your set-up, the 3D TV, will be much more of an investment - we're currently looking at price tags of around £2000 but it's very early days so expect a huge range of models to be unveiled as we move through 2010. The main players in the market - Samsung, JVC, LG and Sony - are all working on 3D TVs and Sky have stated that although you can watch 3D TV on a screen as small as 26 inches, the larger the screen the better.
When 3D is launched on Sky it will be available through your existing Sky+HD Box if you also subscribe to the HD Pack - here are some of the current Sky HD deals...
