Sky launches Europe’s first dedicated 3D TV channel with Sky 3D

01 November 2010

British television viewers have become the first in Europe to experience a full 3D TV station in their homes, with the launch of Sky 3D on 1 October this year.

The channel kicked off with 3D coverage of the epic annual golfing clash between Europe and the US, the Ryder Cup - and has followed up with the a full schedule of programmes in 3D, from Premiership football fixtures to a host of documentaries.

3D footage helps to bring the world to life, putting you right at the heart of things in a series of fascinating documentaries. Explore the extraordinary world of insects in Bugs! A 3D Adventure, zoom in outer space to examine the origins of it all in the mind-boggling The Universe, or plunge into the primeval oceans to experience Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure.

But best of all is Sky's line-up of 3D movies, brought to you exclusively in conjunction with Panasonic, thanks to an extension of its existing sponsorship deal with Sky Movies, announced in September.

Highlights this month will include Coraline 3D, the re-imagining of fantasy writer Neil Gaiman's book that won a BAFTA award for best children's feature. Also on the menu is animated masterpiece Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, with more sci-fi and horror action in the form of Monsters Vs Aliens and My Bloody Valentine.

Existing Sky customers with a Sky+HD receiver can subscribe to the new 3D channel without even having to change their Sky+HD box - all they need is a 3D-enabled TV. Customers without a Sky+HD box can get one for free when they sign up to Sky with, or upgrade to, the SK HD Pack. To find out how to activate Sky 3D in your home, click here.

Sky promises that 3D TV will bring "event TV" into the home, with big sports matches, concerts and blockbuster movies all coming to home TV screens using the eye-popping new technology over the coming months. It's set to change the way people watch TV, transforming it from a passive form of entertainment into a total, immersive viewing experience.

Celebrity gadget geek Stephen Fry teamed up with Sky to explain the benefits of the new system in a specially created short film.

"3D TV is no longer a gimmick," explains Fry. "And it poised to revolutionise the way we enjoy our entertainment."

The launch of Sky 3D won't see any big format war, like VHS vs Betamax. The service is compatible with all major domestic 3D TV systems, including Panasonic's award-winning Viera 3D TVs with active shutter glasses.

Over the coming months, British television viewers can look forward to even more content appearing on the 'small' screen - if you can describe the 65in plasma display of the Panasonic Viera TX-P65VT20B as 'small', that is. Virgin Media launched a service showing 3D movies on demand to subscribers at the end of September, and even the BBC has dipped its toe into the world of 3D, with a specially created advert for its hit series Strictly Come Dancing.

To get a taste of Sky 3D for yourself, visit your nearest Sky 3D demo - or view the immersive Sky 3D experience at London's O2 arena. For more details, click here.