Sky to launch a 3D TV channel
BSkyB plans to launch Europe’s first ever 3D TV channel with films, entertainment shows and sports content in the UK next year.
The satellite broadcaster has decided to bring its 3D roll-out programme forward following the increased numbers of Sky+ HD subscribers, according to reports.
Over the last year, BSkyB has doubled the number of customers with Sky+ HD boxes, which will be used to broadcast the 3D service, to 1.31 million in total.
However, customers wanting to take up Sky’s new offering will also need special glasses and a new “3D ready” TV set, which is expected to be on sale in the UK next year.
The current retail price of a Hyundai 3D-ready TV set is £2,500, however, the broadcaster hopes in time prices will come down to a similar amount that consumers would be willing to pay for a standard HD plasma screen.
Brian Sullivan, managing director of Sky’s customer group, said: “3D is a genuinely ‘seeing is believing’ experience [and] next year we will make our HD boxes work even harder for customers by launching Europe’s first 3D TV channel.”
Sullivan also confirmed Sky’s plans to launch a “pull” VoD service using the broadband capability in Sky+ HD boxes to boost consumer choice by allowing programmes to be watched on-demand.
“[We are also] introducing a comprehensive video-on-demand service to complement Sky+ and the current Sky Anytime service,” he said.
In a trading statement earlier today, Sky said it is gaining subscribers at its fastest rate for five years. It added 462,000 customers in the year to the end of June, which takes its total number to an impressive 9.4 million (see Sky reports 6% ad revenue decline).
Jeremy Darroch, Sky’s chief executive, said: “We offer customers outstanding value through a combination of high quality products and great value and expect continued growth towards our target of 10 million customers by December 2010.”
However, the company also reported a 6% ad revenue decline for the same period, down to £308 million from £328 million in the previous year.