DIRECTV, Major League Baseball and Fox Sports announced they will offer the 2010 MLB All-Star Game in 3D exclusively on DIRECTV’s new 3D channel, n3D powered by Panasonic (Channel 103).
According to the statement, the telecast of the mid-summer classic from Angels Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., next Tuesday will make sports TV history as the first national broadcast of an MLB game in 3D.
“We are excited to be the exclusive provider of this history making broadcast of the MLB All-Star game in 3D and working on this pivotal TV event with Major League Baseball and FOX Sports, our long-time partners in innovative sports programming,” said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content Strategy and Development for DIRECTV. “Though we’re still in the early innings of this amazing technology’s evolution, we continue to believe 3D, like HD, will fundamentally change the TV landscape, and offer viewers a new and totally engaging way to watch sports, movies and other entertainment programming in the home.”
The 3D broadcast will require a separate Fox Sports production crew using nine cameras to cover the game, offering viewers camera angles not normally seen in a regular 2D broadcast. Barry Landis will produce the 3D broadcast. Derek Manning directs. Chris Long serves as senior vice president of Entertainment for DIRECTV. The 3D telecast is available to DIRECTV HD customers with an HD 3D TV set and 3D glasses.
DIRECTV and Panasonic recently launched a trio of dedicated 3D channels including n3D powered by Panasonic, DIRECTV Cinema in 3D and n3Don Demand, which is currently offering replays of ESPN’s 3D coverage of the 2010 World Cup Games. DIRECTV launched ESPN 3D on June 1 and will offer the network’s live 3D broadcast of the World Cup final on July 11 and the 2010 State Farm Home Run Derby on July 12.
DIRECTV also delivered the first 3D NASCAR race with TNT last Saturday featuring the NASCAR Coke Zero 400 in 3D and will deliver regional telecasts of the New York Yankees-Seattle Mariners series July 10-11, produced in 3D by DIRECTV with YES Network and FSN Northwest.
For more information visit: www.directv.com ; www.panasonic.com