Mexico Kicks off S3D TV with Soccer

Chalk up another first for S3D TV: Mexico’s first telecast of a major soccer match in the format. Televisa, Mexico’s largest producer of Spanish-language content, teamed with Sony, Binocle 3D and RealD on S3D coverage of Club America’s 1-0 victory Sunday over Chivas of Guadalajara.

The S3D telecast was beamed to four Cinepolis theaters in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, as well as private screenings at Televisa’s San Angel studios in Mexico City and the AMC Burbank Town Center 6. Cinepolis charged 89 pesos ($6.70) per ticket. The regular 2D telecast was expected to draw about 35 million viewers.

Televisa provided the network, transmission and most of the production support; Sony, RealD and Binocle 3D contributed the cameras, projectors and multiplexers.

Televisa plans to present at least one event per financial quarter through the next year, including musical events and a special 3D finale of the telenovela Atrevete a sonar (Dare to Dream) in May in the National Auditorium to a crowd of 10,000. Televisa operations veep Maximiliano Arteaga also indicated the company’s intention to present certain events of the 2012 Olympic Games in London in 3D.

By James Young, Variety