Sky UK Have recently tested the transmission of 3D TV.

Skys live 3D transmission took place at Londons Abbey Road studios as part of a three-screen 3D event that involved:

o Sky broadcasting a simulcast of a Keane live gig. This was transmitted over a high definition satellite transponder and displaying the event on a 46 inch high definition 3D TV screen. The VIP audience were able to view the full live Sky transmission in the Abbey Road studio next door to the live gig.

A live test broadcast via a satellite downlink to a Vue cinema kitted out with 3D equipment.

Using polarisation technology, this is the first time a live event has been broadcast to a domestic 3D TV screen in the UK. The content was delivered using Skys digital satellite broadcast platform and existing Sky+HD infrastructure (including cameras, transmission facilities and satellite uplink / downlink). Playback, via a Hyundai 3D Ready TV, was direct from a standard Sky+HD set-top box.

Sky again stressed the demo did not represent a launch, nor even a planned launch, given that there is much still to be done.

However, Gerry OSullivan, Skys Director of Strategic Product Development, said: “Being able to broadcast a live event in 3D is a real breakthrough as previous demonstrations have relied on recorded material. This is the first time we have broadcast a live event in 3D over satellite and it shows the significant progress we are making with our research and development activity.”

Apparently the equipment used was a normal Sky HD Receiver, and the viewers wore special glasses. These were not the old style 3d glasses with the red and blue / green tints, but new specially adapted viewing glasses.

About Sky 3D

Sky 3D, launched in 2010, was a British television channel dedicated to broadcasting 3D content. It offered a range of programming, including sports, movies, and documentaries, designed to be viewed with 3D-compatible TVs and glasses. The channel aimed to provide an immersive viewing experience by leveraging 3D technology to enhance visual depth and realism. Sky 3D was part of Sky’s broader push into new media technologies, reflecting the growing interest in 3D entertainment. Despite initial enthusiasm, the channel ceased broadcasting in 2015 due to limited consumer adoption and the industry’s shift towards 4K and HDR technologies.