More than 1,000 pubs embrace 3D football
More than 1,000 pubs and clubs in the UK and Ireland have signed up to receive 3D football through Sky.
The broadcaster will also offer pubs cut-price 3D TVs, after signing a deal with manufacturer LG.
Sky customers will be able to buy 47" 3D screens at the special price of £1,350, to include 100 pairs of 3D glasses.
The broadcaster's official website, SkySports.com, says Sky's special 3D TV channel will go live with the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Chelsea on Saturday April 3.
Sky will show at least a further five Premier League games - to be announced - in 3D before the end of the current season.
The Coca-Cola Football League Play-Off Finals in Wembley Stadium at the end of May will also be broadcast in 3D.
"More pubs and clubs are expected to sign up in the days and weeks ahead," says SkySports.com.
In addition, a showreel showcasing "the best of Sky 3D" across different programming will run on Sky 3D during "selected hours of the day".
Brian Lenz, Sky's director of product design and TV product development, said: "It's fitting that one of the biggest games of the season will be the launch pad for our pioneering Sky 3D service.
"With 3D, seeing really is believing, so it's great news that over a thousand pubs across country will be able to show the magic of 3D to their customers."
According to the website, last week Sony, Samsung, LG and Panasonic confirmed plans to have 3D TVs on sale soon, "some as early as this month".
And other 3D programmes, including movies, sport, documentaries, entertainment and arts shows, will be available later in the year "at no extra cost" for 3D subscribers.
For more information, see www.sky.com/3D.
Case study: Royal Oak, Upper Holloway, London
Licensee John Lally is hoping to boost trade by becoming one of the first pubs in the area to screen live 3D football.
The Enterprise lessee hopes to have Sky 3D up and running by 1 April. He is expecting to pay up to £5,000 for a 46 inch TV, Sky box and satellite to get 3D TV installed at the pub.
He will charge £2 for a pair of 3D glasses that customers keep for hygiene reasons.
"We wanted to do it to get punters in and give them a reason not to watch the matches at home with a cigarette," said Lally.
"I'm a bit of a guinea pig as the first pub in this area to get 3D TV. I hope it takes off with the premiership games in April."
Lally will advertise the live 3D matches on A-boards outside the pub and the council will run pieces in the local magazines and papers.
