Not so long ago the biggest news in TV was hi def. All of the big digital TV providers started to embrace the technology and offer it to subscribers in increasingly affordable packages. Then, as the cost of HD-ready TV’s began to fall online and on the High Street, HD TV became within reach of even the most frugal viewers.
The big story in TV now is 3D. And it’s a story that is set to get bigger in the year to come.
For a long time the idea of enjoying 3D programmes at home seemed a little pie-in-the-sky, but the past few years has seen a resurgence in 3D movies in UK cinemas.
This new breed of 3D, driven by incredible technological leaps, has created some of the most exciting and successful movies in living memory, amongst them Toy Story 3, MegaMind, Shrek Forever After and, of course, Avatar.
Now, just as with HD before it, the cost of 3D-ready hardware is falling, at the same time that the choice of 3D programming available to UK viewers is increasing.
If you have a 3D-ready TV, 3D glasses designed to work with your TV and an HDMI cable (often included with your set-top box) you can get 3D content from the following 3D TV providers.
Sky 3D
It should come as no surprise that Sky was the vanguard of UK 3D TV.
For more than 20 years now Sky has been leading the pack in bringing the latest advances in TV technology into our homes, and their current Sky+ HD with Sky World package is just another example of their truly groundbreaking entertainment services.
With Sky+ HD with Sky World you get access to a whole world of entertainment including more than 300 subscription digital TV channels including Sky Movies & Sky Sports. You can also enjoy great on-demand content, much of it in HD.
Sky+ HD with Sky World subscribers also get fast broadband at connection speeds of up to 20Mb as well as free calls to UK land lines all weekend and every evening.
Sky’s 3D output is increasing in variety every day. Premiership football, rugby, fascinating documentaries, exciting concerts and live shows are featured alongside massive movies including Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs and Avatar.
The Sky+ HD with Sky World package is offered on a 12 month contract and even features a free Sky+ HD set-top box and free Sky Broadband Wireless Router (worth £50).
Sky+ HD with Sky World summary
- Over 300 digital TV channels
- The Sky Movies Pack, Sky Sports Pack & Sky HD Pack
- Inclusive Sky+ HD Box
- Inclusive Sky Broadband Wireless Router
- 20Mb broadband with 2GB monthly usage allowance
- Free evening and weekend calls to UK land lines
Virgin 3D on-demand
Currently Virgin Media does not have any dedicated 3D channels in the way that Sky does. Instead all 3D content from Virgin is carried on the excellent on-demand service.
To receive 3D content on Virgin Media subscribers will need a V HD Box, a V+ HD Box or a Virgin Media TiVo box in addition to a 3D-ready, 3D glasses and an HDMI lead. You will also need to pay a one-off fee of £49.95 to activate the HD function of your set-top box.
3D content is ‘rented’ from FilmFlex Movies On Demand for a 24-hour period. Each movie will cost around £4.75.
BT Vision
BT Vision, like Virgin Media, does not currently broadcast any dedicated 3D channels. However a selection of 3D movies is available via the BT Vision on-demand service.
To receive 3D movies you will need a BT Vision+ set-top box. Movies are downloaded to the internal hard drive rather than being streamed.
The good news is that if you download a movie but don’t have chance to start watching it before the license expires you will not be charged for the movie. The cost of the movie will be billed to your account the first time you press ‘play’ to start watching the movie.
3D movies on BT Vision cost around £5.99 each.
3D digital TV and Cable.co.uk
3D TV is set to explode over the next 12 months with a greater choice of content and channels giving viewers access to a whole new world of unbelievable entertainment delivered right into their own homes 24-hours a day.
At Cable.co.uk we will always have details of the latest 3D packages, deals and bundles so if you’re looking to join the 3D revolution then Cable.co.uk is your perfect partner.
