Sunday's match between Arsenal and Manchester United will be the
world's first live 3D television sports broadcast, Sky said yesterday.
The match at Arsenal's Emirates ****ium will be broadcast at nine pubs
in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Dublin as the public's
first taste of live 3D football ahead of Sky's dedicated 3D channel
launching in April.
On Sunday Sky will transmit two live feeds – one to its traditional Sky
Sports customers and another in 3D. Two separate commentary teams, two
camera crews and two production teams will produce the simultaneous
broadcasts. The former Arsenal centre-forward Alan Smith and the
commentator Alan Parry will be the first voices of live 3D sport.
Sky Sports' Darren Long dismissed the suggestion 3D sport was a gimmick
and said the extra dimension gives viewers a greater appreciation of
the action. "When you watch a golfer putting in 2D it looks flat – it
looks easy," he said. "When you see it in 3D you can see every bump and
contour on the green and you really appreciate their skill