BSkyB To Launch 3D TV Service In 2010

TheSync writes "The Guardian reports that BSkyB will launch Europe's first 3D TV service in 2010. You will need the Sky+ HD set-top box, and a '3D ready' TV set (glasses-based stereoscopic system such as LCD shutter glasses or polarized glasses). Note that the first 3D TV service was from Nippon BS Broadcasting BS11 for use with Hyundai 3D sets."

Comments

pointless?

[timmarhy]

the 3d effect is diminised without a wrap around screen though?

sheeple

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd like to agree with the willfail tag, alas, this is BSkyB, the UK's favourite waste of money, murdoch is far, far more popular than the BBC with a certain, very large, braindead section of the british public.

Re:sheeple

[pisto_grih]

Get freesat.

Re:sheeple

[teh kurisu]

If you're paying by direct debit, try talking to your bank about it. Under the direct debit agreement you're entitled to a full and immediate refund from the bank if a payment has been taken improperly. This means that you'll get your money back first, and questions will be asked later.

It's at the discretion of the bank of course, and if your contract with Sky doesn't actually guarantee you'll get anything for your money then you may struggle to persuade the bank, but it's always worth a shot.

Re:sheeple

[teh kurisu]

I have Freesat. I was in the same situation as the GP up until the switchover - I was on a relay that wasn't transmitting Freeview at all (and analogue reception was quite poor), and there was no cable provider in the area. The flat I was living in had a satellite dish attached by a previous occupant, and so I picked up a Freesat HD box as soon as they became available.

Now that the switchover has happened, I receive what my local MP is referring to as 'Freeview Lite' - I only receive the 'public service' channels provided by the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 (and Channel 5 as well I suspect, although the Freeview website is telling me otherwise).

The thing is, Freesat doesn't offer much more than that. The channels that I get on Freeview are also the only ones really worth watching on Freesat. Most other channels are garbage. I would only really recommend Freesat under the following circumstances:

• If you absolutely must have the one-and-a-half HD channels (BBC HD and the half-a-channel ITV HD).
• If it's your only digital TV option that doesn't require a subscription, and you can't wait for your switchover date.
• If you're a Scottish Gaelic speaker and want to watch BBC ALBA, which is only available via satellite.
• If you want to receive local programming from another part of the UK. A friend of mine in London is considering Freesat so that he can watch Scottish programming.
• If you live in the Republic of Ireland, where DTT isn't nearly as well developed (rebranded boxes are available under the name Sat4Free).

There are other options beside Sky and Virgin - Tiscali and BT IPTV services are available in some areas. I'm currently using Tiscali alongside Freesat, and it provides as good a range of channels as I want along with a lot of on-demand content. It's not the most reliable service in the world however, and I'm not sure I want to recommend them over Sky just yet.

Re:Keep giving the people what they don't want

[takev]

Seems they closed shop according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2D-plus-depth

Re:Repeating Fad

[dgatwood]

True enough, but with 3D, you have to factor in a lot of costs beyond the equipment cost itself. For example, you can get away with crappy sets if your camera always points in only a couple of directions and has no depth. That background showing a field behind the window suddenly looks like crap in 3D.