FA Cup Final to be Shown on Sky 3D

Apr 26, 2011 No Comments by Jonathan Tustain

More 3D sports news! ESPN and Sky 3D have further cemented ties with an announcement today that Sky 3D will be carrying ESPN’s live 3D broadcast of the FA Cup Final in Wembley Stadium between Manchester City and Stoke City.

This will be the first time the FA Cup Final will be available for home 3D viewers and it will be happening live on May 14th.

People who do not have access to Sky 3D at home will still be able to watch the FA Cup Final in 3D in one of over 1500 Sky 3D pubs where Sky have installed hundreds of LG 3D TV sets for 3D sports events.

espn 3d camera FA Cup Final to be Shown on Sky 3D Sky 3D and ESPN 3D have collaborated before. As 3DFocus.co.uk previously reported, Sky 3D presented ESPN’s Winter X Games back in February and more collaboration agreements have been promised which are expected to be released soon.

ESPN will be producing coverage of the event along with ESPN commentary, pundits and graphics so Sky are acting more of a platform than a broadcaster in this instance.

Kick off starts at 14.30 on may 14th and the entire game will be commercial free. At half time viewers will be able to watch ESPN’s commentators analyse the action from their gantry position in 3D too.

John Cassy hinted that Sky 3D will be available as a platform for other channel’s to broadcast 3D content during a speech during this year’s MIPTV event which you can watch in its entirety .

"ESPN is extremely proud to have been at the forefront of the development of 3D sports coverage, and are very excited to work with other companies like Sky that are leading espn studio 300x199 FA Cup Final to be Shown on Sky 3D the way as well," said Murray Barnett, vice president , ESPN Media Distribution. "Sports have proven to be a driver for technology and innovation repeatedly through the years, and that continues today with 3D TV. Bringing ESPN 3D's production of great events like the FA Cup Final the Winter X Games and more to fans on Sky 3D will help showcase the new dimension that technology has made possible."

John Cassy, Head of Sky 3D said "Sky's 3D story continues at pace. Working with high quality channel partners such as ESPN means that we can continue to extend the choice of high quality 3D content for customers. With Sky Sports continuing to break new ground, and with the addition of the best of EPSN's live 3D coverage, Sky's customers are enjoying the richest 3D experience available."

ESPN has operated 2D channels in the UK since 2009 and has rights to broadcast the FA Cup Final in the UK along with ITV. ESPN already operates a dedicated 3D channel in America which was launched in June last year and screens 3D NBA basketball and NFL American football. ESPN clearly regard Sky 3D as an effective way to launch 3D content in the UK.