US network NBC will provide 3D coverage of the Olympic Games for the first time after agreeing a partnership with television manufacturer Panasonic covering the London 2012 Games.
The broadcasts will be produced by Olympic Broadcasting Services, the International Olympic Committee’s host broadcaster for the Olympics. They will be made available on next-day delay to all cable, satellite and IPTV operators which are carrying NBC’s coverage of the Games. NBC has the US rights in a deal covering the 2010 and 2012 Games.
OBS will produce more than 200 hours of 3D coverage using Panasonic’s production technologies including the AG-3DP1, a full high-definition and 3D camera recorder. Panasonic, which is a worldwide partner of the Olympics in the audio and visual equipment category, will provide equipment and personnel to assist OBS and NBC.
The 2012 Olympics will be the first Games to be broadcast in 3D.
Panasonic has also provided technology and personnel to support US network CBS’s 3D coverage of the 2010 and 2011 editions of the US Open tennis tournament.