Canal+ Joins 3D World Cup Crowd

Canal+ France has confirmed plans to broadcast a dozen matches from the World Cup in the 3D format later this month. The French premium channel will join previously announced broadcasters taking the Sony-originated feed that include commercial channel TF1, Swiss cable network Naxoo and Spain’s Digital+.

Canal itself will show an initial four games; Netherlands v Denmark, Argentina v South Korea, Spain v Honduras and Slovakia v Italy. It holds the rights to all the games in the tournament that will be screened in high definition. French commercial broadcaster TF1 will broadcast five games including the opener between South Africa and Mexico and the Final. All will be available over the CanalSat platform.

The paycaster confirmed plans to increase its 3D content to include cinema, entertainment, magazines, sports, etc, once the tournament has been completed. Canal had previously announced its 3D channel would be on-air at Christmas 2010.

Both the latest generation of HD satellite receivers and the +Dual Cube are capable of receiving the transmissions that also require a 3D television display.

By Julian Clover, Broadband TV News