‘Take 1st Step in 3D’ pleads Sky boss

Chris Forrester

Gerry O’Sullivan, BSkyB’s director of strategic product development, urged delegates at NAB to get started on 3D television. He told his audience at NAB that they could either carry on talking about 3D, or get started.

"We can deliver 3D to people's homes using the investment we have already made in broadcasting," he said April 20. "I think that should be the first step for 3D in the home. I plead with you to help."

O’Sullivan showcased recent BSkyB productions, including a 3D taping of the English National Ballet’s production of Swan Lake. He argued that broadcasters should keep things simple. He urged set makers to build the TV sets needed for 3D and for programme makers to start to produce content. "In the technology community, make it simple," he said. "We can do this a lot quicker."

In what was perhaps a sideways swipe at standard body SMPTE’s plans to deliver a ‘standard’ in two years’ time, O’Sullivan said: "You don't need standards. We've got a standard: It's called HD." He added: "Sky wants to make it simple, using the current infrastructure and set-top boxes that are already in 1 million homes," O'Sullivan said. Sky’s basic home setup relies on a Sky+HD set-top box.

Besides ‘Swan Lake’ and a clip by music group Keane, O'Sullivan also showcased clips from a range of tests shot in 3D, including material from a Liverpool-Marseille Champions League match, Sky1's Gladiators and a boxing match between Ricky Hatton and Juan Lazcano.