Sky 3D to Show ESPN’s Winter X Games

Feb 18, 2011 No Comments by Jonathan Tustain

ESPN 3D and Sky 3D announce Winter X Games will be broadcast in the UK

In a welcome 3D content announcement, ESPN will be broadcasting, for the first time, 3D content in the UK on Sky's 3D channel throughout February and March. The Winter X games 3D feature Ski and Snowboard competitions for SuperPipe, Slopestyle and Big Air disciplines. ESPN (who operate a 3D channel in America) filmed the event using 15 3D rigs including a 3D Ultra Slow Motion camera (recording at 500 frames per second), a 1600 foot- long wire-mounted FlyCam over the Big Air course, wireless skier-mounted 3D cameras, a crane-mounted camera positioned 90 feet over the SuperPipe, multiple robotic 3D cameras mounted at key points on courses and more. Attracting more than 200 of the world’s top athletes, this year marked the 10^th consecutive year Winter X Games was held in Aspen and the first time ESPN produced live 3D coverage (airing 18 hours of original, live coverage on ESPN 3D in the U.S.). The second-ever Winter X Games Europe will be held in Tignes, France 16-18th March. “The spectacular action and gravity defying tricks of some of the world’s greatest action sports athletes are all featured in Winter X Games 15,” said Murray Barnett, vice president, sports channels and syndication. “There can be no better technology than 3D to showcase their stunning ability. ESPN is proud to team up with Sky 3D to bring this unique event to viewers, and expect it’s just the first of many great sporting events in 3D that ESPN can serve to UK sports fans.” John Cassy, Channel Director, Sky 3D added “ It’s great to be working with broadcasters like ESPN who are embracing what 3D can do for different genres of TV entertainment. Adding an exhilarating event like the Winter X Games to our channel line-up shows how we are building on our ambition to make Sky 3D the home of great 3D from Sky and a host of other broadcasters.” ESPN operate a 3D channel (ESPN 3D) in America which was launched in June 2010 after 3 years of 3D R&D. ESPN 3D has focussed on 3D domestic sports events such as college football and basketball, the State Farm Home Run Derby, the Masters, the Harlem Globetrotters game. Up until recently ESPN 3D was an event based network but since February 14th has become a 24/7 3D channel. If Sky 3D and ESPN 3D continue content sharing it could mean a largely needed boost of 3D content on Sky's 3D channel. Click here for weekly updated Sky 3D channel