With last night’s State of Origin game, played in a very wet Sydney came the first free to air 3D broadcast in Australia courtesy of Nine and Harvey Norman. For a select few who had access to specially set up 3D channel 40 as well as a 4D TV, the experience was almost as good as being there and probably a lot warmer.
Ken Sutcliffe opened the broadcast, welcoming viewers to the historic occasion. His welcome speech ending with him hading a football to us in 3D. The graphics for the game were all in 3D as well, providing for some spectacular viewing.
Once the game got underway, you had the sense of being in one of the VIP boxes looking onto the field at the stadium. The sense of depth and perception saw the crowd in the playground and players standing out in the middle of the field. Close ups were in your face with some of the crowd pictures feeling like they were being brought with into your lounge room.
While the 3D broadcast was a big deal, the focus of the broadcast was all about the football. Unlike the soccer on Monday night, the commentary team made very little mention of the historic 3D broadcast and discusses mostly the game and all that is Origin football.
The soccer on Foxtel on Monday night had some spectacular 3D shots of the side lines, and, as is the case with soccer, seeing the ball kicked around the field in 3D gave that extra dimension to the game on TV. Rugby league in 3D allows you to see the players on the field in perspective but the broadcast seemed to lack some of those spectacular 3D angles seen in the soccer. Rain in the first half didn’t help either.
All in all, 3D sport is definitely what will drive the 3D technology ultimately. There is nothing like seeing the sports field like you are in a VIP box. It can, in some case, make it easier to follow what is going on, where players are, where the ball is, and more. Sports coverage gives an excellent opportunity for broadcasters to make creative 3D graphics covering game statistics, player details and more.
With Foxtel already having screened the soccer in 3D, Nine’s 3D State of Origin coverage and SBS’s Soccer World Cup coverage to come, expect more news about 3D sport in coming months. Seven are already looking in to 3D coverage of the AFL Grand Final this year.
As for the first State of Origin game itself, NSW scored the first try in the first ten minutes and converted. Queensland then equalised, and a penalty late on the first half saw them take the lead. Deep in the second half, QLD extended their lead to 28-14, ultimately winning the game 28-24. Queensland lead the series 1-0, continuing NSW’s Origin curse.
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