Comcast Corporation announced that it will partner with Augusta National Golf Club to deliver the 2010 Masters Tournament in next-generation 3D across multiple platforms.
According to the statement, Comcast will serve as a distribution partner from Augusta National and will deliver viewers two hours of live next-generation 3D coverage of the Tournament beginning with the Par 3 Contest on April 7 and continuing throughout the four Tournament rounds each day. Daily time and hole coverage includes:
* April 7: Par 3 (3 – 5 p.m. ET) – Holes 4, 8 and 9
* April 8 and 9: (4 – 6 p.m. ET) – Holes 14, 16 and 18 with rotating coverage of holes 10 through 13 and 17
* April 10 and 11: (5 – 7 p.m. ET) – Holes 14, 16 and 18 with rotating coverage of holes 10 through 13 and 17
In addition to the live 3D viewing experience, Comcast will bring the 3D experience to its video-on-demand platform which will carry the prior day’s coverage of the Tournament and a 20-minute condensed highlights and recaps of each day of the Tournament.
To make this experience possible, Comcast will use its fiber network to carry a 3D production feed to the Comcast Media Center where it will be packaged for distribution to cable systems. Comcast and IBM, the Tournament’s technology partner, are also combining efforts to offer the same 3D coverage via www.masters.com.
“The 3D experience gives viewers a player’s perspective of Augusta National, like they’re looking through a window onto one of the most beautiful and scenic venues in the world,” said Derek Harrar, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video and Entertainment Services for Comcast. “We can’t imagine a better setting than the Masters Tournament to give a glimpse of the future of 3D television.”
To view the Masters in 3D, consumers will need a new 3DTV with 3D glasses and an HD set-top box with an HDMI connection, or a 3D PC/monitor using a 3D media player and glasses. Full HD and SD Masters Tournament coverage will continue to be available on CBS and ESPN.
For those viewers who do not have 3D televisions, Comcast is carrying in-depth coverage of the Masters on video-on-demand in HD and SD, including:
* Highlights and the most memorable moments from the past 55 years
* The 2009 Masters Official Film providing highlights and memorable moments from The 2009 Masters Tournament
* The 2009 Masters Par 3 Contest
* A Masters anthology from BBC
The Masters HD On Demand on TV content is available now, and the 3D content will be available beginning April 8. Comcast’s Xfinity.com site will also host comprehensive coverage of the Masters with full event replays and extensive highlights, including daily recaps, commentary, analysis, press conferences and interviews starting April 5.
For more information visit: www.comcast.com ; www.masters.com