Under 0.5% Of BBC Viewers Watched London Olympics In 3D

Following the BBC’s decision to broadcast certain segments of the London 2012 Olympics in all their tri-dimensional glory, many 3D advocates had hoped that this would spur an upturn in 3DTV adoption among the UK public as Olympic fever grips the nation. However, some initial viewing figures released by BARB (Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board) may leave them disappointed, as it was revealed that less than 0.5 percent of BBC viewers actually watched the London Olympics opening ceremony in 3D.

BBC London 2012 Olympics
Under 0.5% of BBC viewers watched London Olympics in 3D

Technology website Pocket-lint.com, who obtained the numbers through registered BARB data processing bureau Attentional, reported that 113,000 viewers tuned into BBC HD – the channel on which the Beeb’s 3D coverage is aired – on the night of the opening ceremony. While representing a sizable numerical increase over previous 3D programmes delivered by the British public service broadcaster, this is only a miniscule proportion of the total UK TV audience of 26.9 million who watched the event on Friday the 27th of July.

Still, there are some signs of encouragement. Last month’s BBC broadcast of the Wimbledon tennis championships men’s singles final between Britain’s Andy Murray and Swiss maestro Roger Federer attracted 17 million viewers in 2D, but only 30,000 in 3D. This equates to a 3D-to-2D ratio of 0.18 percent, which has been comfortably surpassed by the 0.42 percent registered during the opening night of this year’s Olympic Games.

And there are two more opportunities for the ratio to be beaten over the course of these Games. Tonight from 8.30pm, the BBC will be providing 3D coverage of the most mouth-watering event of all Olympic disciplines, the men’s 100m final, which includes some build-up, 10 seconds worth of sprinting (or jogging in the case of Usain Bolt), and post-race analysis. Then on the 12th of August, the closing ceremony will be broadcast in the third dimension, preluded by an Olympics review programme at 8pm.

In addition, every evening from 11pm there will be a one-hour Olympic highlights show in 3D. The BBC’s tri-dimensional content throughout the London 2012 Olympics can be enjoyed for free on the BBC HD channel (Freeview channel 54; Freesat 109; Sky 169; and Virgin 187) by viewers who have access to a 3D-capable HDTV display.

Source: Pocket-lint.com

16 comments

  1. That’s because 3D is poor. It looks nothing like reality, but instead looks totally gimmicky. And that’s the best implementation, by Panasonic.

  2. David Mackenzie

    That’s a real shame, because this was the first time I’ve seen 3D where I thought it was really worthwhile. Not totally realistic of course, but more enveloping than the 2D version.

    I’m not so sold on it for movies, but for event shows like this I think it works nicely.

  3. tried to watch olympics on 3D on sky ch 169-very disappointed. the screen was seen divided in two parts????? no 3D picture. what was i doing wrong????

  4. I have a 3dtv and would have loved to watch in 3d, however there was no information on how we were supposed to do that! After flicking through all the channels I eventually gave up and just ended up watching it on the normal HD channel.

    Re: Hasu –
    You need to go into 3D mode and set the mode for the L and R split down the middle, this tells the screen where the break is for the two images to be superimposed :)

  5. So delighted with the coverage in 3d tonight Sunday. Please broadcast more during the last week as 3d sets are expensive and we have put our money into this technology. Looking forward so much to last night.

  6. If they advertised when their 3D prgrammes are being broadcast their viewing figures wuld increase. At the moment I have no idea when they show 3D.

  7. I watcged abit last night in 3D and it was shocking. They had the “B Team” doing commentary and the camera angles were set to accentuate 3D depth. So for races you had a fixed point of view near finish line with no sense of who was winning/gaining/fading. This meant that I completely missed Christine Ohurugu’s late dash for silver. Similarly they opted for a head-on camera for triple jump so it was completely impossible to see if jumps were long or short. I was genuinely shocked at how Beeb had sacrificed proper view points just to geta bit of lame depth. I reverted to 2D viewing after about 15 mins of the 3D debacle.

  8. I love 3D and would watch the Olympics if NBC was doing a half-decent job of presenting it. As has been pointed out, we are not getting optimum coverage. My provider’s feed has the B grade commentary mixed too low in the surround field. I love the 3D but I can’t stand the presentation.

  9. Yet again the carpers and Luddites bang on about the BBC and their attempts to bring us engaging experiences. It happened with colour in the late 60s again with HD in more recent times and now with 3D. The anti-elitist mob should think more carefully about the introduction of any technology – the early adopters pay through the nose and suffer all the teething problems that come with anything new (whether it be motor cars, jet travel, computing etc.)

    In the end we will embrace at much lower cost those offerings that really work and add value to our lives, and consign the rest to the dustbin of history. Unfortunately this country seems over-populated by those who moan, resist change and innovation and are probably still under the illusion that Britain still rules the waves!!!

  10. I have recently bought a Sanyo Smart TV which came with 2 pairs of 3D glasses. I can turn on 3D with the remote and, at the moment, I’m watching the Equestrian event on BBC HD.

    It’s fab!

  11. Hi ive got a samsung model 5 series LED 3D set. I am very dissapointed with 3D viewing. I bought 4 sets of active samsung glass’s and do not really see any depth to the viewing. They are all working correctly along witht the TV watching the Olmpice 2012 in 3D by using side to side with the 3D button on the remote. Question is am i missing something, my signal is very good and being a bit technical cannot fathom why any body would promote this 3D. Its distracting especially when a bright light or near staright lines are behind a subject. Better viewing just in full HD.
    Comments please. I do hear the red grenn shift 3D veiwing is a better experience.

  12. Have been watching some parts in 3D; opening Ceremony, 100M and the highlights each night. The tri-dimensional effect and added viewing enjoyment do seem to vary based on the event. For example the Canoe Slalom is the best so far as the additional 3rd dimension shows the relative position of canoe and gate. The opening ceremony was equally spectacular (and confusing) in 3D and 2D.

    I do hope the BBC do not give up on those license fee payers that have 3D. I am looking forward to Dinosaurs 3D ( I caught a test clip on BBC HD, looked amazing)

    Watching on a Panasonic TXP46VT20 – with active shutter glasses on Freesat+

  13. If they actually promoted 3 d broadcast, we may actually tune in. Other than the opening ceremony I’ve seen no mention of any other 3d coverage, and the Olympics is all we’ve watched. Certainly wasn’t aware of Wimbledon in 3d.

    ADVERTISE IT, PROMOTE IT, TALK ABOUT IT.!

    The opening ceremony was fantastic in 3d. Lets see lots more!

    Tell us when it’s happening!

  14. Having just got a new TV with 3D I’ve watched the olympic highlights in 3D & really enjoyed them.

    It’s not something I’d watch every day or for a long time, but it a very enjoyable addition to the what’s available & I hope that the BBC brings us some more 3D content on the BBC HD channel.

  15. Totally agree with previous correspondents. Advertising of 3D events has been lamentable. How can any survey be conclusive if we are not told where and when to find 3D broadcasts. Please BBC, more events in 3D but PLEASE LET US KNOW WHEN THEY ARE OBTAINABLE

  16. I never even knew that the bbc broadcast anything in 3d, I was just flicking through about to give up looking for something to watch when I came across a double picture on bbc hd, I wondered why the screen was split but showing the same picture on both halves, it seemed pointless so I brought up the information and realised why.
    I then spent 35 minutes trying to find batteries for my 3d glasses in the end they came out of my car fob. I have had no interest in the Olympics apart from mo farah and that was only because my daughter and her husband were at school with him.
    Had the bbc made it known that this was in 3d I would have watched the whole thing.
    What I did see of it was ok in parts it seemed more like a pop up type book ( in flat layers at different distances ) than 3 dimenal but when something suddenly appeared at the front of the screen it really did feel close, and the confetti that came down at the very end was so realistically close I half expected to have to Hoover up afterwards. Overall I did enjoy it, and the highlights showed some of what I missed while looking for the batteries we’re very good, I only wished I had seen the whole thing.
    So if the bbc decide to show anymore 3d please tell me, as I refuse to pay sky’s , sky high prices to see the same thing 30 times.