Sky debuts public 3d broadcasts

Sky will broadcast the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester Utd, which will be filmed in 3d. The process, first announced in December 2008, will involve two high definition cameras mounted on a P+S Technik rig with image synchronisation performed manually during shooting. Although broadcasting 3d content requires double the bandwidth, Sky has addressed this problem by halving the resolution to each eye to 540 lines. This allows the data to be transmitted over its existing 1080i network. Chris Johns, Sky's chief engineer, central architectural group told New Electronics: "3d technology has been tested for a while in the US. Because US programmes are broadcast at 120GHz – a much higher scan rate than in the UK – more frames per second are broadcast and a different technique is possible. Images are polarised and controlled by a pulse." Individual frames are transmitted sequentially for the left eye, then the right eye. "This flashing technique requires the use of 'active' glasses," Johns explained. "These can cost up to $70 a pair. Our 'passive' glasses cost $1." Sky plans to roll out its 3d channel to hundreds of pubs from April and reach the consumer market by the end of the year. Read New Electronics' exclusive feature on 3d tv here.