Virgin Media is to bring live 3D tennis into subscribers’ homes after an agreement with Eurosport. The TF1-owned broadcaster is showing coverage of the French Open from the centre court at Roland Garros, Paris for a second year, giving Virgin the chance to show its first live 3D event. Selected matches will also be available for late replay through the cableco’s on demand service.
Jean Thierry Augustin, Eurosport’s managing director, distribution, rights acquisition and development said: “This agreement with Virgin Media will enable UK sports fans to experience Grand Slam tennis as never before. The iconic clay courts of Roland Garros are the perfect stage to demonstrate the progress being made in 3D sports broadcasting. It will be the first time an entire Grand Slam event has been accessible in 3D to viewers at home from the opening day to the final and it reinforces Eurosport’s commitment to innovation and new technology.”
Last year, Eurosport partnered with manufacturer Panasonic, putting its 3D coverage in electronics retailers around Europe.
The tournament gets underway on May 22 and will run through until June 5.
It is also being made available in the Nordic region via Canal Digital, Switzerland on Swisscom and Cyfra+ in Poland with additional operators expected to confirm their involvement in the next few days.
