Sky is Launching Uk's First 3D Channel

[Sky HD Team]

At Sky we’re always looking at ways to bring the latest and best innovations to our customers first. And we’ve announced today that next year we’ll be launching Europe’s first ever 3D TV channel, to run across our current Sky+HD infrastructure.

You might have noticed that we’ve been trialling 3D for a while now, testing different types of content - ranging from football to boxing, rock concerts to ballet - and trialling our technical capability to broadcast live 3D TV though a Sky+HD box.

It’s been a steep learning curve and we’ve learnt a lot about the new production techniques and skills required to really being 3D to life through a domestic TV, as well as the technicalities of how to actual deliver a quality 3D experience to the home.

Comments on the forums have demonstrated that there is potentially a real appetite for 3D TV, and this encouraged us to look at the possibility of launching commercial services.

So next year we plan to launch a 3D channel which will be accessible through our existing Sky+HD boxes. The service will be broadcast across Sky’s existing HD infrastructure and be available via the current generation of Sky+HD set-top boxes. To watch 3D, customers will also require a new ‘3D Ready’ TV, which we expect to be on sale in the UK next year.

The channel will launch next year and we’re still busy working on the details. But with over one million Sky+HD homes already ‘3D Ready’, we look forward to coming back to you with more information just as soon as we can.

As ever, we value the continued feedback from everybody on the forums, so please keep it coming.

Many thanks

The Sky+HD Team

[Isitme]

But with over one million Sky+HD homes already ‘3D Ready’

If the sets are not on sale yet how can that many be '3D Ready'? By 'Ready' I would assume this to mean they are just waiting on the broadcast, but what you really mean is they have 3D ready boxes. All they need is a very expensive 3D TV set

Thanks for the info

[NewsreadeR]

When we went to the Sky+HD 3DTV demonstration in December last year, Sky paid about £2.5k for their TV some months previously.

In reality as people start to buy the sets, this price would come down. There's a year or so to go yet as well, so not out of the question, for people to start buying them as they replace their TV's etc

Its exciting news, especially having seen what a standard Sky+HD box is capable of.

[Brian69]

OMG when will this progress ever end!. My first experience of television was watching the Coronation on a set which my father built from a kit. It had a 9in screen and the picture faded in and out as the signal was very weak. What he would have made of Sky HD and now 3D I cannot think.
Well done Sky, I look forward to a look at this

[Isitme]

Would that have been the 1937 Coronation Brian

The 1930s coronation TV that's gone digital after 72 years | Mail Online

[Brian69]

Oh very funny, Just cause you'er a moderator now, is that not some offical in the Church of Scotland?
Well done Tom very much deserved. I will now be laying a network cable to my HD box, VOD can't be far off.

[SatDish]

.
To watch 3D, customers will also require a new ‘3D Ready’ TV, which we expect to be on sale in the UK next year.

£130 million of HD related investment expensed
in H2 2008/09

How about the same sort of investment on subsidizing '3D Ready’ TV's to rapidly grow the 3DTV market as you have done with the HD box's and HD demand.

.
with over one million Sky+HD homes already ‘3D Ready’

534,000 Sky+HD net additions since January 2009 to reach 1.313 million

With this sort of growth you could be expecting nearly if not over 2 million HD customers at 3D channel launch so would the above investment be to good to miss for the revenue it could generate in subscriptions (i assume 3DTV would be subscription or ppv based).

Lets face it with if the 3DTV's are not sub £1,000 then there will be very little demand or growth for years especialy with the economic climate over the next 12 months.

[SatDish]

VOD can't be far off.

Found this about future HD growth...

Future
• 40+ channels
• Build on new EPG to drive HD viewing
• Expand Sky Anytime
• Deeper VOD offering
• Platform for future innovation (eg 3D)

[Undecided Adrian]

I hope that the deeper VOD offering means via the HD box and not the Sky player.

As my wife points out with Sky player and iplayer it's all well and good if you want to watch TV on your PC by yourself.

If you want to watch it as a family on your TV it's not much use.

[Old_nick]

I'd rather have a wider choice of HD material than 3D.