Back to the Future with 3D in France.

All the cool kids are doing it.

Orange will be broadcasting the first ever football match in 3D for a select few this weekend when Lyon take on PSG at the Stade Gerland. Screens will be setup inside the Gerland and at the Parc de Princes for ‘invited guests’ to check out the latest step in the burgeoning romance between football and technology.

For the first time in Europe, Orange will deploy special equipment to produce a football match live and in 3D, including six stereoscopic cameras, a standalone production bus, and specialised 3D teams. This operation will be run in conjunction with the professional football league LFP and HBS, executive producer of the French Ligue 1.

First trialled by Orange in 2008 at the Roland Garros International Tennis Open, 3D broadcasting provides gripping involvement and incomparable emotion compared to normal TV.

The game is tomorrow and it’ll be interesting to see if someone can hijack the feed and get a stream running. Everything points to a defiant no, but I think we’ve all seen stranger. Like the dudes in that picture.

It really is a great concept, but….who goes to the stadium to watch the stadium screen? Doesn’t that seem a bit pointless? There are certain benefits one finds at the game that can’t be found even with a 3D stadium screen, such as off-camera off-the-ball movement or action behind the play – particularly those of the extracurricular variety – and coach’s actions which may be found in the peripheral or the odd melee in the stands. There is, after all, a reason why scouts attend games rather than just phoning in assessments from the comfort of their plush sofas.

Oh, and that game taking place on the pitch? Already in 3D.

But all in all a cool concept and one which might well take off. Or it might go the way of 3D everything else and flop miserably. You’ll have to let me know, because I certainly won’t be watching anytime soon. The last thing I’m interested in is sweaty men coming at me through my television screen.

	Soccer Forums	Team/International Results

Category: World Football

Tags: 3D, france, Liegue 1, Olympique Lyon, Orange, Parc de Princes, PSG, Stade Gerland, World Football

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