BBC to broadcast Wimbledon matches in 3D

The BBC has announced that it will broadcast selected matches from this year’s Wimbledon Championships live in 3D to homes across the UK. The coverage will be part of the corporation’s two-year trial experimenting with 3D production and distribution.

The matches in the trial coverage will include both the men’s and women’s singles semi-finals and finals, free for those with access to a 3D TV set and to the BBC’s HD Red Button service.

The move is part of a small number of 3D TV editorial experiments the BBC is currently undertaking, which has also included selected coverage from Wimbledon 2012 and the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The news follows the BBC’s announcement earlier last week that it will be offering 10 live streams of Wimbledon 2013, available across mobile, tablet, computer and connected TV devices.

“We’re delighted to provide live 3D coverage from the biggest matches of this year’s Wimbledon,” said Kim Shillinglaw, head of BBC 3D. “Major UK sporting events are a big part of our trials with 3D content and this allows us to build on our work from previous Wimbledon Championships and the London 2012 Olympics.”

Mick Desmond, commercial director of the All England Club, added: “We are always looking at ways to improve the Wimbledon experience and the 3D TV trials will allow us to do that by exploring the boundaries of live sporting television.”