Panasonic, CBS Sports and the United States Tennis Association are working together to provide even more 3D broadcast coverage of the US Open Tennis Championships than they did in their 2010 debut of the service.
CBS Sports will produce the 3D coverage, which will include 3D versions of all Arthur Ashe Stadium matches that it broadcasts in high-def both on Labor Day Weekend and on Finals Weekend, Sept. 9-11. This year’s 3D broadcasts also will extend to coverage of CBS Sports’ matches from Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Filming the events will be ten 3D broadcast cameras and a high-speed 3D replay system, using a pre-production model of Panasonic’s 3DP1 handheld Full HD 3D professional camcorder that will become commercially available in the fall.
The 3D production of the 2010 US Open Tennis Championships was honored with the George Wensel Technical Achievement Award in the 32nd Annual Sports Emmys.
Panasonic once again will have sites at which members of the public can experience the latest Viera Full HD 3D TVs and connected TV capabilities. Visitors to these Panasonic Experience Amazing 3D exhibits will be able to check in with Foursquare to receive special offers. They also can choose to participate in an “Experience Amazing” Scavenger Hunt by scanning QR codes throughout the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to win prizes.
CBS Sports’ 3D telecasts of the 2011 US Open will again be available on DirecTV’s n/3D channel. Comcast will also carry the 3D broadcast coverage this year, bringing the programming to its subscribers on Xfinity 3D. Additionally, the men’s and women’s finals will be streamed live in 3D on USOpen.org, the official website of the tournament.
“As we saw from last year, there may be no better sport to broadcast in 3D than tennis,” said Harold Byrant, executive producer and vice president, Production, CBS Sports. “With our additional cameras and enhanced camera positions, including low, court-level positions, viewers will feel like they’re actually on the court with some of the world’s greatest players.”
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Photo of PCEC President Shiro Kitajima courtesy of Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company
