Ryder Cup Will Get 3D Treatment by Sky Sports and CPG

The state of 3D sports production got a much needed shot in the arm at IBC2012 this week. Sky Sports and CAMERON PACE Group (CPG) announced that they will produce this month’s Ryder Cup in 3D. The Sky 3D channel will show more than 30 hours of live coverage.

According to the IBC Daily, the event will be co-produced by CPG and Sky Sports separately from the 2D host broadcast produced by NBC and European Tour Golf and, therefore, will not use the 5D model (a combined 2D/3D production rather than two standalone shows) that CPG has developed over the past 18 months.

“In this instance, it is not 5D largely because of the way it was pulled together rather late. It was difficult for us to add extra cameras to NBC’s existing roster,” Sky 3D director John Cassy told the IBC Daily.

Approximately 26 3D camera positions will be used for the coverage, which will tee off at Medinah Country Club in Illinois on Sept. 28. The tournament will mark the second Ryder Cup to be produced in 3D by Sky, following the 2010 tournament at Celtic Manor in Wales.

Live coverage of the Ryder Cup follows a busy summer for Sky 3D, which carried Eurosport’s 3D coverage of the French Open and 250 hours of 3D coverage from the Olympic Games. Sky 3D launched in 2010 with live coverage of the Ryder Cup from Celtic Manor. The network currently boasts more than a quarter of a million Sky customers and carried live coverage of The Masters golf this year and last year as well as 11 other sports, including Premier League Football, UEFA Champions League Final, and Aviva Premiership Rugby Union.

Despite a successful 3D production at the London Games, as well as a continued stream of live 3D programming from Sky 3D and ESPN 3D, much of the 3D buzz at IBC has been less than positive. The excitement that surrounded the format in Amsterdam two years ago has been surpassed by talk of 4K, 8K, and the multiscreen experience. However, given the Ryder Cup announcement — with possibly more announcements in the near future, according to Casey — and the anticipated evolution of glasses-free 3D display, the format could very well be on the verge of a renaissance of sorts in Europe and the U.S.

But the greatest growth remains in Asia, specifically China, where CPG recently launched a joint venture with two Chinese partners: Tiajin North Film Group, a state-owned film and TV company, and Tianjing Binhai Hi-Tech Development Group, a technology provider.

SVG will have more on Sky 3D and CPG’s 3D coverage of the Ryder Cup later this week.