3D Olympics for 80% of US pay-TV subs
July 23, 2012
NBC Olympics, a division of the NBC Sports Group, and Panasonic Corporation of North America have revealed that the first-ever 3D coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games, will be available to subscribers of MVPDs (multichannel video programming distributors) representing nearly 80 per cent of US TV households. The daily 3D programming, which will be shown on next-day delay, will be carried by many cable, satellite and telco providers such as such as Armstrong, AT&T, Blue Ridge, Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, Insight, Mediacom, RCN, Suddenlink, Time Warner Cable, Verizon, and WideOpen West.
These carriers will distribute some 242 hours of the 3D broadcasts via the Media Center. Panasonic is NBC Olympics’ exclusive Flat-Panel HDTV and Blu-ray Disc Player advertiser for the London Olympic Games.
“We are pleased that nearly 80 per cent of US TV households will receive the incomparable clarity and performance of the first-ever 3D production of the Olympic Games,” said Joseph M Taylor, Chairman and CEO, Panasonic Corporation of North America, who suggested that Panasonic’s 3D technology and NBC Olympics’ moment-by-moment coverage of the Games would make the events more engaging to viewers as they watch their favourite athletes compete.
The 3D broadcasts will be produced by Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and will include some of the most-anticipated events of the Games, including:
- Opening and Closing Ceremonies
- Men’s and Women’s gymnastics
- Extensive coverage from the Aquatic Center, including both diving and swimming
- Bicycle racing (cycling) from the Velodrome
- Full coverage of track and field from the Olympic Stadium
NBC Olympics will provide 12 hours of US-oriented 3D programming every day, featuring both competitive highlights from the previous day as well as the best moments of the Games to date. Viewers who watch the primetime coverage on NBC will have the opportunity to go back and relive their favourite events in full HD 3D.
Olympic Broadcasting Services will capture the Games using Panasonic’s 3D production technologies and fully-integrated twin-lens Full HD 3D camera recorder products.