UK pubs premier for 3D football

UK football fans saw into the future at the weekend with the world’s first-ever live 3D sports broadcast.

Sky Sports beamed the Arsenal vs Manchester United Premier League encounter on Sunday in 3D to nine specially-selected pubs across the country, giving those fans lucky enough to watch it the chance to see first-hand the future of sports broadcasting.

Initial reaction to the experience was mixed among viewers, with many saying that while close-ups, information screens and stadium shots were spectacular, the actual match action itself benefited little from the use of 3D technology.

Sky Sports kept the locations of the pubs showing the match secret until very late in the day, ensuring that the venues in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Dublin weren’t swamped by fans.

After taking in United’s 3-1 victory over their title rivals, fans gave mixed reactions to the new way of taking in a game at their local.

Colin Silver, 43, a finance worker watching the game in Edinburgh’s vast Sportsters bar, told The Daily Record: "It’s like high-definition TV but with more depth. The best bits are the graphics and the behind the goal shots.

"I don’t think the actual pictures of the game are that much better than a good high definition picture, but there is clearly more to come in terms of the technology. This is just a starting point.

"The only problem is I feel like a prat standing in the pub with these dark glasses on."

Critics were unanimous in their praise for the presentation screens and close-ups, while agreeing that the match action itself was not particularly enhanced.

Emmet Malone, writing in The Irish Times, said: “The graphics and promos (with their specially selected shots) were certainly eye catching and generated a fair bit of excitement during the build-up to the game.

“Once started, though, most people seemed much more caught up in the action itself than the added perspective provided by the combination of high tech engineering and comedy eyewear.

“If you’re engaged by the match then really the technology seemed to bring little enough to the routine run of play. But during goalmouth scrambles the extra sense of depth is appreciable while a slow motion replay of an early Andrei Arshavin shot that seemed to follow a fortuitous trajectory for Sky’s 3D camera behind the goal, brought a few gasps and widespread mutterings of approval.”

Sky plans to roll out its 3D service to more venues across the UK over the course of the year. However, with each set of specially-designed glasses retailing at £50, it is unclear how may pubs will be willing to shell out for a bulk purchase.

Alan Lodge, 02.02.2010