US Open to be Shown in 3D by Partners Panasonic and CBS Sports

August 23, 2011

impotent helvetica, check sans-serif;”>Panasonic and CBS Sports are teaming up to expand the 3D coverage of next month’s US Open Tennis Championships to include matches from Louis Armstrong Stadium, pills the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

CBS Sports will serve as the host broadcaster producing 3D versions of all Arthur Ashe Stadium matches that it broadcasts in Hi-definition both on Labor Day Weekend and on Finals Weekend, September 9-11.

Last year’s 3D production of the 2010 US Open Tennis Championships – the first world-wide 3D broadcast of a tennis major – was honored with a 2010 Emmy Award for technical achievement.

This year’s improved 3D broadcast coverage will include new, 3D-specific positions designed by the telecast partners to provide the best 3D perspectives.  The action will be covered by ten 3D broadcast cameras and a high-speed 3D replay system.  A pre-production model of Panasonic’s new 3DP1 handheld Full HD 3D professional camcorder (available later this fall) will be used to provide match and grounds coverage for the telecast.  And the overall court coverage will again be based around the innovative 3D broadcast camera shadow rigs designed by the Cameron Pace Group and used last year.

Harlan Stone, USTA Chief Business and Communications Officer, said: “Working with our partners CBS Sports and Panasonic, we once again expect to be a leader in presenting our sport to fans in breathtaking new ways, last year we saw the impressive production values for 3D television and now, by including Louis Armstrong Stadium and expanding our distribution, we are bringing this innovative new look to the sport to more people than ever before.”

Joseph M. Taylor, Chairman & CEO of Panasonic Corporation of North America, added: “Panasonic is delighted to again be sponsoring the US Open Championships and bringing the passion and power of this premier tennis event in stunning 3D to TV screens across the country, the tennis pros on the courts will be broadcast in 3D by sports production pros at our partner CBS, and with the USTA itself, we are thrilled to be back at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for this top event.”

Harold Byrant, Executive Producer & Vice President, Production, CBS Sports, commented: “As we saw from last year, there may be no better sport to broadcast in 3D than tennis, with our additional cameras and enhanced camera positions, including low, court-level positions, viewers will feel like they’re actually on the court with some of the world’s greatest players.  CBS Sports is once again looking forward to using this groundbreaking technology during our coverage of the US Open Tennis Championships.”

The 3D broadcasts will use a separate production team and equipment from the traditional Hi-definition broadcasts of the tournament.  Plans call two special 3D production trucks and a unique 3D-dedicated CBS Sports broadcast team. CBS has designed and upgraded 3D broadcast camera placements lower to the court than traditional TV locations in order to capture the close-up and personal, athletic dimension of tennis that make 3D such a powerful experience.