Canadian videophiles who have been wondering when we'll see more 3D content can expect a major 3D fix two weeks before Christmas, and another early in the new year. Panasonic Canada Inc. and CBC-TV have announced plans to broadcast two NHL games in 3D: a Saturday-night contest between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens on December 11 from Toronto's Air Canada Centre, and the Heritage Classic from Calgary's McMahon Stadium between the Flames and Habs on Sunday, February 20, 2011.

Panasonic will be the official 3D and HDTV sponsor of Hockey Night in Canada starting in October, and is providing 3D equipment, including rigs, cameras and video monitors, for the two 3D productions.

"Hockey is Canada's national sport, and we know sports is going to drive 3D," Ian Kilvert, General Manager, Corporate Brand Management for Panasonic Canada Inc. told Marketnews. "This proves that there really is 3D content."

Scott Moore, Executive Director of CBC Sports and General Manager of CBC Revenue, told Marketnews that discussions between CBC and Panasonic on 3D hockey began shortly before the 2010 Olympics, and accelerated after the Games. Senior game producers have been spending time in the U.S. seeing how sports are being shot in 3D. The network will conduct one rehearsal before the December 11 live broadcast. But as Moore noted, "No one has the experience in hockey that Hockey Night in Canada has."

The network will use different commentators for its 2D and 3D broadcasts, Moore said. "Significant parts of the production are different," he explained. "The replays are different, and the camera angles are significantly different." Viewers will be seeing a very different image when watching in 3D, so there has to be a different audio feed to match the pictures.

ESPN's 3D broadcasts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final were instructive in the camera angles that work for soccer and hockey, Moore said. The standard camera angle for 2D HDTV, high over the centre of the field or rink, gives viewers a good sense of the strategy of the game. "But 3D doesn't pop there," Moore said. On CBC-TV's two 3D broadcasts, "you'll see more lower camera angles, in the corners and behind the net, that give more depth. You'll see less of the strategy, but you'll get a more vivid experience that puts you right at the arena."

Kilvert said he saw first-hand what 3D can do for hockey last February in Vancouver. Panasonic showed some live 3D Olympic hockey coverage at its Pavilion in Vancouver. "3D works really well in corners and behind the net," Kilvert said. "It really got exciting."

Now that the partnership between Panasonic and HNIC is official, Panasonic will begin creating promotions that tie into the 3D broadcasts, Kilvert said. "We're going to work with our sales and marketing team to promote this event in the field."

Article Tags:  Panasonic, 3D, HDTV, CBC, Hockey Night in Canada, Ian Kilvert, Scott Moore, NHL, Heritage Classic, Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Calgary Flames, McMahon Stadium