Today's English Premier League match between north London giants Arsenal and Manchester United was significant in two ways: it was a battle between two of this season's title contenders, and it was the first sporting event in the world to be shown in 3D.
Sky Sports broadcast the match in nine pubs across the UK using the latest television technology - in the country which invented television.
So, rather than beer goggles, footie fans today had 3D goggles.
And fans at the Railway Tavern gave the trial their thumbs-up.
David Wubelski, 71, from London, said: 'I've been watching Arsenal for 60 years and went to a game four weeks ago and this is better."
The live broadcast from the Emirates Stadium in north London served as a preview for Sky's full 3D channel, which goes live in April.
As the number of 3D TVs arriving in the UK increases, Sky promises to broadcast a weekly 3D Premier League game to hundreds more pubs this spring.
And in the home, its 1.6 million Sky+HD customers (figure from September 2009) will be able to watch the 3D channel at no extra charge.
As for the match itself? It was between two of the giants of the English game, Arsenal and Manchester United who are involved in a three-way fight for the title.
Manchester United won 3-1 thanks to a goal each from Rooney and Park and an opening own goal by Arsenal goalkeeper Almunia. Vermaelen scored a consolation for the Gunners. So the world's first football goal to be shown in 3D was an own goal.
Along with Chelsea, those two teams are battling it out for the English title in what is turning out to be the closest title battle for years.
Fans hail first 3D broadcast of a football match as better than being in the stadium
By Daily Mail Reporter
31st January 2010
Daily Mail
Gunning for glory: Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in north London
A moment of television history was made today as football fans watched the world's first broadcast of a sporting event in 3D.
Sky Sports broadcast the Arsenal versus Manchester United game to nine pubs across the UK using the latest polarised 3D method.
Fans at the Railway Tavern pub in central London gave the new 3D viewing experience the thumbs-up.
Specs on: Football fans at a London pub watch the world's first live broadcast of a match in 3D
Paul Kelly, 45, from London, said: 'The 3D looks great close up but on the wide shots it flattens out.
'It's definitely an enhancement. I go to watch a lot of games live and in some way this is better, but it really depends where you are in the stadium.'
David Wubelski, 71, from London, said: 'I've been watching Arsenal for 60 years and went to a game four weeks ago and this is better - the close-ups are fantastic but the wide angle is not quite so impressive.
'Wearing the glasses is fine, you don't even notice it. I don't normally go to a pub to watch a game but I'd consider it if it was being shown in 3D.'
Laura Prylls, 25, from London said: 'I wear glasses anyway so I've just worn the 3D
specs over the top and it's fine, it's not uncomfortable.'
'Like having a front row seat': Fans were impressed with the3D action
She added: 'The atmosphere is really good, I don't normally go to the pub for football but there's a whole group of us here everyone's really excited. I'd definitely watch another game in 3D - it's the future.
'I think it would be an improvement if there were a few more cameras around the pitch lower down.'
The live broadcast from the Emirates Stadium in north London served as a preview for Sky's full 3D channel, which goes live in April.
We've come a long way since the 1920s
Television was invented by British engineer John Logie Baird. He made the world's first public demonstration of TV at a Selfridges department store in London in 1925 in a three-week series of demonstrations in which he showed the images of silhouettes. In his London laboratory on 2 October 1925, Baird successfully transmitted the world's first television picture with a greyscale image: the head of a ventriloquist's dummy nicknamed "Stooky Bill". Baird went downstairs and fetched an office worker, 20-year-old William Edward Taynton, to see what a human face would look like, and Taynton became the first person on Earth to be televised in a full tonal range. Looking for publicity, Baird visited the Daily Express newspaper to promote his invention. The news editor was terrified - he could not conceive of such a fantastical invention: he was quoted by one of his staff as saying: "For God's sake, go down to reception and get rid of a lunatic who's down there. He says he's got a machine for seeing by wireless! Watch him — he may have a razor on him!"
Sky transmitted two live feeds from the game - one to its traditional Sky Sports customers and another in 3D.
Two separate commentary teams, two camera crews and two production teams produced the simultaneous broadcasts.
Ex-Gunner Alan Smith and commentator Alan Parry became the first voices of live 3D sport.
Forget beer goggles: It's now 3D glasses in pubs
As Arsenal kicked off, Parry said: 'You'll see every shot, every tackle and every save in a way you've never seen before. I'm sure it will revolutionise the way we watch live sports.'
As the number of 3D TVs arriving in the UK increases, Sky promises to broadcast a weekly 3D Premier League game to hundreds more pubs this spring.
And in the home, its 1.6 million Sky+HD customers (figure from September 2009) will be able to watch the 3D channel at no extra charge.
The broadcaster has been developing its 3D system for two years and its team even travelled to America to visit the pioneer of modern 3D cinema, Avatar director James Cameron.
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia became the first footballer to score in a live 3D broadcast after touching a cross from United's Portuguese winger Nani into his own net.
Further goals from United's Wayne Rooney and Ji-sung Park secured their 3-1.
Historic broadcast: Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung scores a goal during the world's first live 3D viewing of a football match
Watching the 3D broadcast at the Emirates Stadium Sky Sports' director of operations Darren Long said: 'This is a historic day for us, this is not a trick... this is normal, this is where we're going to go.
'It's like having a front row seat that moves around the pitch all the time. If you've got a front row seat then of course you've got the best seat in the house until the action happens away from you.
'Now we've got all the action happening in front of you with all the depth that comes with it.
Mr Long said next season every Super Sunday Premier League match on Sky Sports will also be available in 3D.
dailymail.co.uk
Sky Sports broadcast the match in nine pubs across the UK using the latest television technology - in the country which invented television.
So, rather than beer goggles, footie fans today had 3D goggles.
And fans at the Railway Tavern gave the trial their thumbs-up.
David Wubelski, 71, from London, said: 'I've been watching Arsenal for 60 years and went to a game four weeks ago and this is better."
The live broadcast from the Emirates Stadium in north London served as a preview for Sky's full 3D channel, which goes live in April.
As the number of 3D TVs arriving in the UK increases, Sky promises to broadcast a weekly 3D Premier League game to hundreds more pubs this spring.
And in the home, its 1.6 million Sky+HD customers (figure from September 2009) will be able to watch the 3D channel at no extra charge.
As for the match itself? It was between two of the giants of the English game, Arsenal and Manchester United who are involved in a three-way fight for the title.
Manchester United won 3-1 thanks to a goal each from Rooney and Park and an opening own goal by Arsenal goalkeeper Almunia. Vermaelen scored a consolation for the Gunners. So the world's first football goal to be shown in 3D was an own goal.
Along with Chelsea, those two teams are battling it out for the English title in what is turning out to be the closest title battle for years.
Fans hail first 3D broadcast of a football match as better than being in the stadium
By Daily Mail Reporter
31st January 2010
Daily Mail
Gunning for glory: Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in north London
A moment of television history was made today as football fans watched the world's first broadcast of a sporting event in 3D.
Sky Sports broadcast the Arsenal versus Manchester United game to nine pubs across the UK using the latest polarised 3D method.
Fans at the Railway Tavern pub in central London gave the new 3D viewing experience the thumbs-up.
Specs on: Football fans at a London pub watch the world's first live broadcast of a match in 3D
Paul Kelly, 45, from London, said: 'The 3D looks great close up but on the wide shots it flattens out.
'It's definitely an enhancement. I go to watch a lot of games live and in some way this is better, but it really depends where you are in the stadium.'
David Wubelski, 71, from London, said: 'I've been watching Arsenal for 60 years and went to a game four weeks ago and this is better - the close-ups are fantastic but the wide angle is not quite so impressive.
'Wearing the glasses is fine, you don't even notice it. I don't normally go to a pub to watch a game but I'd consider it if it was being shown in 3D.'
Laura Prylls, 25, from London said: 'I wear glasses anyway so I've just worn the 3D
specs over the top and it's fine, it's not uncomfortable.'
'Like having a front row seat': Fans were impressed with the3D action
She added: 'The atmosphere is really good, I don't normally go to the pub for football but there's a whole group of us here everyone's really excited. I'd definitely watch another game in 3D - it's the future.
'I think it would be an improvement if there were a few more cameras around the pitch lower down.'
The live broadcast from the Emirates Stadium in north London served as a preview for Sky's full 3D channel, which goes live in April.
We've come a long way since the 1920s
Television was invented by British engineer John Logie Baird. He made the world's first public demonstration of TV at a Selfridges department store in London in 1925 in a three-week series of demonstrations in which he showed the images of silhouettes. In his London laboratory on 2 October 1925, Baird successfully transmitted the world's first television picture with a greyscale image: the head of a ventriloquist's dummy nicknamed "Stooky Bill". Baird went downstairs and fetched an office worker, 20-year-old William Edward Taynton, to see what a human face would look like, and Taynton became the first person on Earth to be televised in a full tonal range. Looking for publicity, Baird visited the Daily Express newspaper to promote his invention. The news editor was terrified - he could not conceive of such a fantastical invention: he was quoted by one of his staff as saying: "For God's sake, go down to reception and get rid of a lunatic who's down there. He says he's got a machine for seeing by wireless! Watch him — he may have a razor on him!"
Sky transmitted two live feeds from the game - one to its traditional Sky Sports customers and another in 3D.
Two separate commentary teams, two camera crews and two production teams produced the simultaneous broadcasts.
Ex-Gunner Alan Smith and commentator Alan Parry became the first voices of live 3D sport.
Forget beer goggles: It's now 3D glasses in pubs
As Arsenal kicked off, Parry said: 'You'll see every shot, every tackle and every save in a way you've never seen before. I'm sure it will revolutionise the way we watch live sports.'
As the number of 3D TVs arriving in the UK increases, Sky promises to broadcast a weekly 3D Premier League game to hundreds more pubs this spring.
And in the home, its 1.6 million Sky+HD customers (figure from September 2009) will be able to watch the 3D channel at no extra charge.
The broadcaster has been developing its 3D system for two years and its team even travelled to America to visit the pioneer of modern 3D cinema, Avatar director James Cameron.
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia became the first footballer to score in a live 3D broadcast after touching a cross from United's Portuguese winger Nani into his own net.
Further goals from United's Wayne Rooney and Ji-sung Park secured their 3-1.
Historic broadcast: Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung scores a goal during the world's first live 3D viewing of a football match
Watching the 3D broadcast at the Emirates Stadium Sky Sports' director of operations Darren Long said: 'This is a historic day for us, this is not a trick... this is normal, this is where we're going to go.
'It's like having a front row seat that moves around the pitch all the time. If you've got a front row seat then of course you've got the best seat in the house until the action happens away from you.
'Now we've got all the action happening in front of you with all the depth that comes with it.
Mr Long said next season every Super Sunday Premier League match on Sky Sports will also be available in 3D.
dailymail.co.uk
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