Sky forges ahead with 3D

[NewsreadeR]

• Sky joins forces with BAFTA award-winning Atlantic Productions to deliver more original home-grown 3D
• Disney, MTV and Discovery sign 3D deals with Sky

Sky has formed a brand new 3D production company, Colossus Productions, with leading UK Independent producer, Atlantic Productions, producers of Sky 3D’s BAFTA award-winning Flying Monsters 3D. Sky has also confirmed 3D output deals with Disney, Discovery Networks and MTV .

Colossus Productions will develop original 3D programming for both UK and international audiences, showcased on Sky 3D, Europe’s first dedicated 3D TV channel, before being distributed to other platforms and countries. Sky has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Atlantic Productions and has a number of existing commissions in production, including a 3D series on plants currently being filmed at Kew Gardens, presented by Sir David Attenborough, and The Bachelor King3D,a theatrical-release feature documentary, also with David Attenborough, that looks at the lives of penguins in South Georgia.

The co-investment with Atlantic Productions follows on from Sky’s commitment earlier this year to increase the amount it invests each year in original UK programming by 50% to £600 million a year by 2014.

To support these commissions, Sky has signed an exclusive 3D output deal with MTV, which follows on from the Discovery 3D output deal confirmed earlier this week. And in continuing its 3D relationship with Disney, Sky has secured rights to an expanded range of 3D film titles.

· The MTV deal will cover episodes from the channel’s World Stage 3D series, which will include performances by Snoop Dog and the Kings of Leon.
· The Discovery deal covers 3D content from a number of channels from the Discovery Network, including Natural History, Engineering and Extreme Sports. It will include 3D Safari, a ten-part series being filmed at Woburn Abbey, and Beautiful Freaks, a natural history special filmed in Namibia.
· And Sky 3D’s portfolio of films has been enhanced significantly having secured the rights for key Disney 3D titles including Toy Story 3, Lion King, Alice in Wonderland, Tron:Legacy, Mars Needs Moms, Pirates of the Caribbean 4 and Fright Night.

Since launching in October 2010 with live 3D coverage of the Ryder Cup, Sky 3D has broadcast more than 120 live sports broadcast in 3D, the world 3D TV premieres of Avatar, Alice in Wonderland and the Toy Story trilogy, and a host of UK originated factual, arts and music programming. Sky 3D is available at no extra charge to all Sky TV customers who take Sky World and have a Sky+HD subscription.

[mcphailan.]

Is 3D any good then? Don't you have to wear specs on top of specs if you already wear specs?....

[Scubbie]

Is 3D any good then? Don't you have to wear specs on top of specs if you already wear specs?....

Yes you do need to wear special glasses. Each TV manufacturer has their own glasses for any given 3D TV and they can vary between models.

The 3D specs need to be worn over your normal glasses and with some combinations this can be uncomfortable.

They are working on producing TVs that do not require the 3D specs though.

Viewing figures for the Cinema (discussed recently on BBC's Click) showed that they have dropped from 3D in favour of 2D. This could also be down to other factors such as some films are actually rubbish in 3D (I found Thor to be very poor in 3D), whilst others are brilliant in 3D (i.e. Pirates of the Caribbean 4).

Some Cinema chains also now charge an extra £1 for the 3D specs, whilst others still provide them for free.

[mcphailan.]

3D - XXX is the format that will sway me

[NewsreadeR]

You may have to duck every now and then though. Kleenex could sponsor it though I guess.

[mcphailan.]

You may have to duck every now and then though. Kleenex could sponsor it though I guess.

I can live with that ...

[Scubbie]

You mean to say that Television X doesn't already show quality 3D movies?

aaaawwwwwwwwww

[mcphailan.]

They have their priorities all wrong, Scubbie. If your name ain't James Cameron, just forget it ......

[Scubbie]

Sorry, more like Jane cameroon

[mattylad]

Try visiting your local Asda store - if they have a TV section then they will likely have a demo setup showing the Sky 3d and some glasses to try.

IMO its not for me..