ESPN announced today that it will launch a new 3D channel on June 11, 2010 with its 3D broadcast of a FIFA World Cup soccer match between South Africa and Mexico.
ESPN 3D has plans to show at least 85 games in 3D over the next 12 months including World Cup soccer, the 2011 BCS National Championship game, college football and basketball, and ESPN’s Summer X Games.
The cable network has been testing its 3D technology for more than two years and recently screened an Ohio State v. USC football game in 3D for 6,000 fans at USC’s Galen Center and in select theaters in Ohio, Texas and Connecticut.
We anticipate a lot more at CES this week regarding 3DTV. For example, analysts expect DirecTV to reveal plans for an upcoming 3D channel – and Discovery, Sony, and IMAX announced a joint venture to develop the first 24/7 3D network in the US.