Versus, cable ops kick-off 3-D college football games

Comcast-owned sports channel Versus will hit the 3-D playing field with its first 3-D college football broadcast this Saturday between top-ranked Oregon and California.

The college football game in Berkeley, Calif., will be carried by Comcast, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and Bright House Networks.

The 3-D game is part of a college football double-header that is being served up by Versus on Saturday. The first game will feature San Diego State at third-ranked TCU.

"We're thrilled that our initial entry into 3-D production will feature a Pac-10 match-up with the top-ranked college football team in the country, along with new technology in the first game of the day that transforms how fans interact with game footage," said Marc Fein, executive vice president of programming, production and business operations for Versus. "We saw this double-header as the perfect opportunity to showcase new technology and create an unbelievable viewing experience for fans."

The 3-D telecast will feature a separate production crew and equipment from the traditional HD game production. Versus will have multiple 3-D cameras placed strategically around the field, giving viewers camera angles not usually seen during 2-D telecasts, as well as a completely different on-air team of announcers and reporters.

In order to watch the game in 3-D, viewers will need a 3-D TV and 3-D glasses, as well as subscriptions to digital tiers from their video providers.

Versus will follow in ESPN's footsteps in offering college football fans the ability to watch games in 3-D.

For more on where 3-D is headed, watch CED's recent 3-D Webinar [1].