3D TV Channels Worldwide
As of 2008, 3D programming is broadcast on Japanese satellite BS11 approximately four times per day.
Cablevision launched a 3D version of its MSG channel on 24 March 2010, available only to Cablevision subscribers on channel 1300. The channel is dedicated primarily to sports broadcasts, including MSG's 3D broadcast of a New York Rangers-New York Islanders game, limited coverage of the 2010 Masters Tournament, and (in cooperation with YES Network) a game between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners.
The first Australian program broadcast in high-definition 3D was Fox Sports coverage of the soccer game Australia-New Zealand on 24 May 2010.
Also in Australia, the Nine Network and Special Broadcasting Service will be bringing the State of Origin (matches on 26 May, 16 June and 7 July 2010) (Nine) and FIFA World Cup(SBS) in 3D on Channel 40 respectively.
In early 2010, Discovery Communications, Imax, and Sony announced plans to launch a 3D TV channel in the US with a planned launch in early 2011. At the same time, a Russian company Platform HD and its partners – General Satellite and Samsung Electronics – announced about their 3D television project, which would be the first similar project in Russia.
In Brazil Rede TV! became the first Terrestrial television to transmit 3D signal freely for all 3D enabled audience on 21 May.
Starting on 11 June 2010, ESPN launched a new channel, ESPN 3D, dedicated to 3D sports with up to 85 live events a year in 3D.
On 1 January 2010, the world's first 3D channel, SKY 3D, started broadcasting nationwide in South Korea by Korea Digital Satellite Broadcasting. The channel's slogan is "World No.1 3D Channel". This 24/7 channel uses the Side by Side technology at a resolution of 1920x1080i. 3D contents include education, animation, sport, documentary and performances.
A full 24-hour broadcast channel was announced at the 2010 Consumer Electronics show as a joint venture from IMAX, Sony, and the Discovery channel.The intent is to launch the channel in the United States by year end 2010.
DirecTV and Panasonic plan to launch 2 broadcast channels and 1 Video on demand channel with 3D content in June 2010. DirecTV previewed a live demo of their 3D feed at the Consumer Electronics Show held 7–10 January 2010.
In Europe, British Sky Broadcasting (Sky) launched a limited 3D TV broadcast service on 3 April 2010. Transmitting from the Astra 2A satellite at 28.2° east, Sky 3D broadcast a selection of live English Premier League football matches to over 1000 British pubs and clubs equipped with a Sky+HD Digibox and 3D Ready TVs, and preview programmes provided for free to top-tier Sky HD subscribers with 3D TV equipment. This was later expanded to include a selection of films, sports, and entertainment programming launched to Sky subscribers on 1 October 2010.
On 28 September 2010, Virgin Media launched a 3D TV on Demand service.
Several other European pay-TV networks are also planning 3D TV channels and some have started test transmissions on other Astra satellites, including French pay-TV operatorCanal+ which has announced its first 3D channel is to be launched in December 2010. Also the Spanish Canal+ has started the first broadcastings on 18 May 2010 and included 2010 FIFA World Cup matches in the new Canal+ 3D channel.[48] Satellite operator SES started a free-to-air 3D demonstration channel on the Astra satellite at 23.5° east on 4 May 2010 for the opening of the 2010 ANGA Cable international trade fair[49] using 3D programming supplied by 3D Ready TV manufacturer Samsung under an agreement between Astra and Samsung to co-promote 3D TV.
As of November 2010, there were eight 3D channels broadcasting to Europe from three Astra satellite positions, including demonstrations provided by Astra, pay-TV from BSkyB, Canal+ and others, and the Dutch Brava3D cultural channel, which provides a mix of classical music, opera and ballet free-to-air across Europe from Astra 23.5°E.
In April 2011, HIGH TV (a 3D family entertainment channel) launched. Headquartered in NY with offices in Hong Kong and London, the channel broadcasts through eight satellites round the world, covering Europe, Asia, the Nordic region, Russia, South America, Africa, Middle East and North America.
3flow is a 3D channel that began broadcasting on Freebox in France on 1 April 2011. Made up entirely of native stereoscopic programming produced and owned by WildEarth and Sasashani (WildEarth's parent company). Initially the focus was mostly safari and has now widened to include underwater, extreme sports and other 3D content from around the world. WildEarth and Sasashani also distribute 3D series and shows through 3D Content Hub.
In 1 January 2012, China's first 3D Test Channel launched on China Central Television and 5 other networks.
On 1 February 2012: The Extreme Sports Channel - the home of Extreme Sports launched in Italy on Sky Italia marking its international début in high definition (HD).
The channel’s HD feed will be a simulcast of the standard definition feed launched in 1999, which now broadcasts to subscribers in 66 territories and in 12 languages across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The inaugural launch on Italy’s Sky platform sees the channel’s entrance into the HD market and from there it will begin rolling out to operators across the EMEA region.
In February 2012 Telecable de Tricom, a major Dominican cable TV provider, announced the launch of the first 3D TV programming package in Latin America. As of 3 July 2012, the only 3D channels available are 3flow and HIGH TV 3D.
In July 2013 the BBC announced that it would be indefinitely suspending 3D programming due to a lack of uptake. Only half of the estimated 1.5 million households in the UK with a 3D-enabled television watched the 2012 summer's Olympics opening ceremony in 3D.
In 2013, in the US, ESPN 3D was shut down due to lack of demand, followed by Xfinity 3D and all DirecTV 3D programming in 2014.
List of 3D Channels
| Channel | Country(s) | Note(s) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3flow | Worldwide | Wildlife and Entertainment | Active |
| HIGH TV 3D | Worldwide | Entertainment | Active |
| n3D | United States | DirecTV only | Defunct |
| Cinema 3D | United States | DirecTV only | Defunct |
| 3net | United States | DirecTV only | Defunct |
| MSG 3D | United States | Cablevision only | Active |
| ESPN 3D | United States | Sport | Defunct |
| Xfinity 3D | United States | Comcast only | Defunct |
| Sky 3D | United Kingdom and Ireland | Sky only | Active |
| Foxtel 3D | Australia | Foxtel only | Defunct |
| HD1 | Belgium (and other European countries) | Free-to-air | |
| Sky 3D | Germany and Austria | Sky Deutschland only | |
| Anixe 3D | German-speaking countries | Free-to-air | Defunct |
| Nova 3D | Greece | Entertainment | |
| Sport 5 3D | Israel | Sport | Defunct |
| Sky 3D | Italy | Sky Italia only | |
| Brava3D | Europe | Free-to-air | |
| Penthouse 3D HD | Europe | Porn | |
| Hustler HD 3D | Italy | Porn | |
| Canal+ 3D | France | Canal+ only | Defunct |
| Canal+ 3D España | Spain | Canal+ only | Active |
| CANAL+ 3D | Poland | CYFRA+ only | |
| NEXT Man 3D | Poland | ||
| NEXT Lejdis 3D | Poland | ||
| NEXT Young 3D | Poland | ||
| nShow 3D | Poland | ITI Group only | Defunct |
| Viasat 3D | Sweden | Viasat only | |
| Teledünya 3D | Turkey | Teledünya only | |
| Digitürk 3D | Turkey | Digitürk only | |
| Smart 3D | Turkey | Presentations | |
| Sky 3D | South Korea | SkyLife only | |
| SBS 3D | South Korea | Free-to-air | |
| TV Azteca 3D | Mexico | Free-to-air | |
| Sukachan 3D169 | Japan | Sky PerfecTV! only | Defunct |
| BS11 | Japan | ||
| RedeTV! | Brazil | ||
| Active 3D | India | Videocon d2h only | |
| MOBILESTAR 3D TV | India | First HD 3D Channel in India | |
| Zhongguo 3D dianshi shiyan pindao | China | Made up by 6 different TV companies |
Standard HD channels have also broadcast in 3D. BBC HD occasionally broadcasts high profile events in 3D including the Wimbledon mens & ladies singles finals and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
3D episodes and shows
There have been several notable examples in television where 3D episodes have been produced, typically as one hour specials or special events.
1980s.
The first-ever 3D broadcast in the UK was an episode of the weekly science magazine The Real World, made by Television South and screened in the UK in February 1982. The program included excerpts of test footage shot by Philips in the Netherlands. Red/green 3D glasses were given away free with copies of the TV Times listings magazine, but the 3D sections of the programme were shown in monochrome. The experiment was repeated nationally in December 1982, with red/blue glasses allowing colour 3D to be shown for the first time. The programme was repeated the following weekend followed by a rare screening of the Western Fort Ti starring George Montgomery and Joan Vohs.
1990s.
In November 1993, the BBC announced a one-off week of 3D programming filmed using the pioneering Pulfrich 3D technique. 3D glasses were sold in shops around the UK, a percentage of the sales going to the Children In Need charity. The week's programming concluded with a screening of the 3D Doctor Who special Dimensions In Time as well as specially shot segments of Noel's House Party and the annual Children In Need charity appeal.
3D television episodes were a brief fad on U.S. television during the May 1997 sweeps. The sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun showed a two-part episode, "Nightmare On Dick Street", where several of the characters' dreams are shown in 3D. The episode cued its viewers to put on their 3D glasses (which used the Pulfrich effect) by including "3D on" and "3D off" icons in the corner of the screen as a way to alert them as to when the 3D sequences would start and finish. Customers were given free glasses courtesy of a joint venture between Little Caesars pizza and Barq's Root Beer. Also in May 1997, ABC had a special line-up of shows that showcased specific scenes in 3D. The shows included Home Improvement, Spin City, The Drew Carey Show, Ellen, Family Matters, Step by Step, Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, and America's Funniest Home Videos. Similar to 3rd Rock, an icon alerted viewers when to put on the 3D glasses. Customers were given free anaglyph glasses at Wendy's for the promotion. Nickelodeon had a special lineup of shows in 1997 that also showcased specific scenes in 3D promoted as Nogglevision; ChromaDepth was the technology of choice for Nickelodeon's 3D .
2000s.
Recent uses of 3D in television include the drama Medium and the comedy Chuck (Season 2, episode 12).
Channel 4 in the UK ran a short season of 3D programming in November 2009 including Derren Brown and The Queen in 3D. Unlike previous British 3D TV experiments, the programmes were transmitted in ColorCode 3D.
2010s[edit]
On 31 January 2010, BSKYB became the first broadcaster in the world to show a live sports event in 3D when Sky Sports screened a football match between Manchester Unitedand Arsenal to a public audience in several selected pubs.
On 31 January 2010, the 52nd Grammy Awards featured a Michael Jackson Tribute Sequence in 3D, using anaglyph format.
The very first stereoscopic indie live action comedy one hour show called Safety Geeks : SVI : 3D specifically for 3DTV and 3D VOD was produced and released in March 2010 through Digital Dynamic Depth / Yabazam and their Yabazam website portal. Safety Geeks SVI 3D Safety Geeks:SVI is the comic adventures of an elite force of safety experts; the P.O.S.H. (Professional Occupational Safety Hazard) team. Obsessed with making the world safer, the CSI-like team investigates accidents to find out what went wrong and who is to blame. It won the Los Angeles 3D film Festival in 2010 as best pilot or series in 3D.
In April 2010, the Masters Tournament was broadcast in live 3D on DirecTV, Comcast, and Cox.
The Roland Garros tennis tournament in Paris, from 23 May to 6 June 2010, was filmed in 3D (center court only) and broadcast live via ADSL and fiber to Orange subscribers throughout France in a dedicated Orange TV channel.
Fox Sports broadcasts the first program in 3D in Australia when the Socceroos played The New Zealand All Whites at the MCG on 24 May 2010.
The Nine Network broadcasts the first Free-to-air 3D telecast when the Queensland Maroons faced the New South Wales Blues at ANZ Stadium on 26 May 2010.
On 29 May 2010, Sky broadcasts Guinness Premiership Final in 3D in selected pubs and clubs.[59]
25 matches in the FIFA World Cup 2010 were broadcast in 3D.
The Inauguration of Philippine President Noynoy Aquino on 30 June 2010 was the first presidential inauguration to telecast in live 3D by GMA Network. However, the telecast was only available in select places.
The 2010 Coke Zero 400 was broadcast in 3D on 3 July on NASCAR.com and DirecTV along with Comcast, Time Warner, and Bright House cable systems.
Astro broadcast the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final on 11 July 2010 in 3-D on their B.yond service.
Satellite delivered Bell TV in Canada began to offer a full-time pay-TV, 3D channel to its subscribers on 27 July 2010.
The 2010 PGA Championship was broadcast in 3D for four hours on 13 August 2010, from 3–7 pm EDT. The broadcast was available on DirecTV, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Cox Communications, and Cablevision.
In September 2010, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's first 3D broadcast was a special about the Canadian monarch, Elizabeth II, and included 3-D film footage of the Queen's 1953 coronation as well as 3D video of her 2010 tour of Canada. This marks the first time the historical 3D images have been seen anywhere on television as well as the first broadcast of a Canadian produced 3D programme in Canada.
FioS and the NFL partnered to broadcast the 2 September 2010, pre-season game between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants in 3D. The game was only broadcast in 3D in the northeast.
The 2010 AFL Grand Final, on 25 September 2010, was broadcast in 3D from the Seven Network.
Rachael Ray aired a 3D Halloween Bash on 29 October 2010.
The first Japanese television series in 3D, Tokyo Control, premiered on 19 January 2011.
In May 2011, 3net released the first docu-reality TV series entitled Bullproof filmed in native 3D made by Digital Revolution Studios.
The 2011 3D Creative Arts Awards "Your World in 3D" was the first award show filmed in native 3D and televised on 3net 3D channel broadcast on DirectTV. The production was filmed at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
On 16 July 2011 - The Parlotones (South African Rock Act) became the first band to broadcast a Live Rock Opera to Terrestrial CInema in 3D, a Live 3D feed to DIRECT TV in the USA and Facebook pay per view. It was called "Dragonflies & Astronauts".
The semi-finals, Bronze Final and Final matches of the 2011 Rugby World Cup will be broadcast in 3D.
Singapore based Tiny Island Productions is currently producing Dream Defenders, which will be available in both autostereoscopic and stereoscopic 3D formats.[64] 3net, which acquired the series, describes it as the first stereoscopic children's series and will air on 25 September 2011.
In July 2011, the BBC announced that the grand final of Strictly Come Dancing in December 2011 will air in 3-D.
The BBC broadcast the 2011 finals of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships in 3D.
In February 2012 Telecable de Tricom, a major Dominican cable TV provider, announced the launch of the first 3D TV programming package in Latin America. As of 10 August 2012 the only 3D channels available are Wildearth,3 Flow 3D,and High TV 3D.
Avi Arad is currently developing a 3D Pac-Man TV show.
The Xbox Live broadcasts of the 2012 Miss Universe and Miss USA beauty pageants were available in RealD 3D.
In 2013, in Brazil, NET HD pay-per-view broadcastes of the thirteenth season of Big Brother Brasil were available in 3D.
World record
The 2011 UEFA Champions League Final match between Manchester United and Barcelona was broadcast live in 3D format on a Ukrainian-produced EKTA screen inGothenburg, Sweden. The screen made it to The Guinness Book of World Records as the world's biggest screen. The live 3D broadcast was provided by the companyViasat.
Health effects
Some viewers have complained of headaches, seizures and eyestrain after watching 3D films. There have been several warnings, especially for the elderly. Motion sickness, in addition to other health concerns, is more easily induced by 3D presentations.
There are primarily two effects of 3D TV that are unnatural for the human vision: crosstalk between the eyes caused by imperfect image separation and the mismatch between convergence and accommodation caused by the difference between an object's perceived position in front of or behind the screen and the real origin of that light on the screen.
It is believed that approximately 12% of people are unable to properly see 3D images, owing to a variety of medical conditions. According to another experiment, up to 30% of people have very weak stereoscopic vision preventing depth perception based on stereo disparity. This nullifies or greatly decreases immersion effects of digital stereo to them.
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