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The BBC has confirmed it will be broadcasting the London 2012 Olympics in 3D, but only bits of the games — including the opening and closing ceremonies — will be treated to the third dimension.
The Beeb’s Roger Mosey outlined the broadcaster’s 3D Olympic schemes in a blog post, explaining that the ceremonies and the men’s 100m final will be shown live in 3D, and 3D highlights from each day’s sport will be shown after the day’s live sporting action is finished.
Sports fans averse to watching 3D or wearing dorky specs needn’t panic, as the 3D broadcasts will go out alongside the reassuringly flat SD and HD options.
The bog-standard SD footage of the games will be shown on BBC One, while BBC One HD will show the same footage in sparkly hi-def. The BBC HD channel will be used for the sporadic 3D broadcasts.
It’s the same setup the BBC used for Wimbledon in the summer.
I’m not a huge fan of 3D, so I’ll confess I’m a little relieved that my street-partying, bunting-hanging Olympic viewing won’t be cluttered with unwanted three-dimensional broadcasts. But there are those who will call the BBC’s plans unambitious.
If ever there was a chance to get the nation interested in 3D tech, the Olympics was it. But showing only three live events and a highlight reel after the fact will leave some viewers feeling short-changed, especially if they’ve just splashed out on a fancy 3D telly to watch the games.
Mosey claims the BBC’s aim is to “showcase 3D for the biggest moments but to preserve choice in a world of conflicting demands”, and notes that “3D has spread more slowly than we perhaps expected in 2009”.
Should Auntie be making more of an effort when it comes to 3D? Or would you rather watch Britain’s heroes wheeze and sweat their way to a creditable fifth place in the usual two dimensions? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, or on our Facebook wall.
