'Glasses-free' 3D coming to London pub

[bassethound]

Australian pub chain Walkabout is to run a trial of glasses-free 3D TV at its flagship London bar for the UEFA Champions League Final later this month.

On May 28, Sky's 3D coverage of the clash between FC Barcelona and Manchester United will be shown at the Walkabout Covent Garden on Henrietta Street in London using a 65-inch TV set provided by iPONT International, an innovator in glasses-free 3D technology.

iPONT will install a wide-angle, 'auto-stereoscopic' 3D LCD display at the pub, which uses a specialist set top box that can stream real-time 3D broadcast content from a Sky+ HD decoder.

The TV set shows 3D content without the need for specialist glasses and is claimed to be watchable via a "viewing cone" of 120 degrees, broadly mirroring similar conditions as a TV is used in the home. The glasses free 3D TV will be available at Walkabout Bar from 6pm on May 28.

Dal Jones, bar manager Walkabout Covent Garden, said: "With the UEFA Champions League Final returning to Wembley this year we're going to be giving our customers the next best thing to being there but with the added bonus of having a beer in their hands.

"Not only will we be the first bar in the UK to screen 'live' 3D football without asking customers to wear 3D spectacles but we'll be bringing a totally new immersive experience to Walkabout."

Sky will also show the game on its Sky 3D channel in pubs and homes around the UK, but customers will need to wear specialist glasses to watch the coverage.

Matthew Young, director iPONT UK, said that the public's reaction to wearing the glasses, which come in active and passive formats, has so far been "lukewarm".

"Nobody likes wearing darkened-spectacles while drinking a pint as it really detracts from the enjoyment," said Young.

"While there'll be plenty of other 3D TV screens at Walkabout I'm fairly certain people will be jostling for position in front of ours.

"3D without the glasses is the only way to enjoy it and to watch the UEFA Champions League Final this way will be every armchair sports fan's dream come true."

Last month, Sky extended its UK broadcasting rights deal for the UEFA Champions League running into 2015, including high definition and 3D coverage.

[Stanman]

Have to say if its anyyting llike the DS than you literal have to stand dead on othetwise it gives you bloody headache.

[punisher]

yeh i heard some bad reviews from the DS and loads of people complainin of headaches and all sorts ... wonder if its gonna be the same for the footy

[emporer]

I had a 3ds for a week, really effective 3d effect but because of the lenticular design of the screen its always going to be bad, you have a tiny sweet spot and anything outside of that is just not right. I think they went for that due to cost, lenticular design stuff has been around for ages, the 3d posters you get are all lenticular. I think glasses free tv is a different tech though, it would certainly have to be as lenticular just wouldnt work for a living room tv.