TV3 packs Catalan cinemas for Champion’s League Final in stereo 3D

Spain: According to Catalan broadcaster TV3, more than 5,000 people watched the Champions League final match in 3D in cinemas across Catalonia, in a unique and pioneering initiative taken by TV3 to cinemas across Catalonia. A total of 22 cinemas in 17 cities offered the only 3D images of Barça’s victory that were available in Spain. Six cinemas in Barcelona city, as well as cinemas in Mataró, Terrassa, Gavà, L’Hospitalet and Badalona sold out all available tickets. Overall, 75% of seating space in all cinemas that broadcast the match in 3D was filled.

“Through this new 3D initiative, TV3 reasserts its pioneering commitment to the new broadcast and production formats. In fact it broadcasted the final match in all currently existing formats – standard, HD with Dolby Digital sound, and in 3D,” said a statement. “This is the third occasion in which TV3 distributes the 3D signal of Champions League matches. The first was the 2010 final held at Spanish Bernabeu Stadium – on that occasion, TV3 produced the HD signal for the whole world and in 3D for the first time for an event of such magnitude. The second occasion was the first-leg match of the Champions semi-finals of that same year between Madrid and Barcelona. But Saturday’s final was the first to reach cinemas across the whole of Catalonia as well.”

TV3 began its 3D broadcasts in 2010 and the format has been rather successful for the broadcaster. Other high-profile broadcasts have included the summary of the dedication of Barcelona’s La Sagrada Familia by the Pope, the Tarragona competition of “castells” (human towers), the men’s and women’s finals of the Madrid 2010 Tennis Masters, as well as a concert and a surf contest in Portugal. Since May, every Saturday the TV3HD channel is broadcast in a 3D strip for around two hours, and TV3 is currently working on a film destined for cinema and TV release, Roca Catalana, based on extreme climbing.