On July 4th Weekend, Watch The NASCAR Sprint Cup Race in 3-D

This coming in while I was away this morning speaking at a sports journalism class at Boston University. Turner Sports announces that the NASCAR Sprint Cup race on July 3 at Daytona will be produced in 3-D. Not only will the telecast be available for those watching 3-D TV sets, but also online. Now that’s a first.

We have the entire explanation from our friends at Turner.

NASCAR MEDIA GROUP AND TURNER SPORTS TO OFFER THE COKE ZERO 400 IN 3D THROUGH NASCAR.COM AND DIRECTV

Sprint Cup Race from Daytona International Speedway on July 3^rd will be Presented in 3D for the First Time in NASCAR’s Storied History

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June 21, 2010) – NASCAR Media Group, a media, marketing and entertainment company, and Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., announced today that NASCAR’s first foray into 3D programming will take place on July 3, 2010 with a special presentation of the Coke Zero 400 (TNT, 7:30 p.m. ET). The 3D production, NASCAR’s first ever, will be made available through TNT RaceBuddy on NASCAR.COM (NASCAR.COM/RaceBuddy3D) as well as through DIRECTV, and will complement a special television presentation on TNT, highlighted by the network’s groundbreaking signature Wide Open format.

NASCAR.COM will feature 3D feeds for the Daytona race in addition to the mosaic of HD-quality complementary unique camera angles available on TNT RaceBuddy on NASCAR.COM (NASCAR.COM/RaceBuddy) throughout the six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races televised on TNT. Turner, which manages NASCAR.COM, will also make the Sprint Cup Series race from Daytona International Speedway available in 3D through DIRECTV. In order to experience the event in 3D, viewers will need a 3D TV or PC display with matching 3D glasses. Fans can go to www.nascar.com/racebuddy3D to get more information about the hardware and software used to view the 3D production online.

“One of our goals here at NASCAR is to continuously explore ways to improve the viewing experience for our fans,” said Jay Abraham, chief operating officer of NASCAR Media Group. “Offering the Coke Zero 400 in 3D on NASCAR.COM and select television distributors is a great example of that consistent exploration. Our fans have been asking us about 3D for several months so we’re excited to deliver that to them for the first time ever in what will likely change how NASCAR is consumed moving forward.”

The 3D production on NASCAR.COM and DIRECTV will feature two custom racing feeds produced specifically for 3D. The first will provide a unique look at the racing action from strategically placed cameras around the track designed to maximize the effect of 3D. The second stream will bring the mayhem of pit row into the third dimension creating a one-of-a-kind visual experience.

“At Turner Sports we pride ourselves on innovation through testing, learning and exploring new products and technologies that can better serve our audiences on a multitude of platforms,” said Lenny Daniels, Turner Sports EVP and COO. “We see this as an opportunity to showcase our marquee primetime race in Daytona through our signature Wide Open format on TNT, as well as to learn more about 3D through this unique presentation online at NASCAR.COM and through DIRECTV.”

TNT’s televised coverage of the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona on July 3 begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with Countdown to Green, and continues with live race coverage in its groundbreaking signature Wide Open format beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. This format is a television presentation in which the network provides continuous race coverage free of national commercial breaks and features more unobstructed race action than that of a standard telecast by using a letterbox widescreen format. Along with title sponsor Coke Zero, featured sponsors-to-date are Burger King, Coors Light, Dimension Films’ Piranha 3D, Goodyear, Sprint, Subway and Toyota. 

NASCAR Media Group is the exclusive rights holder of NASCAR event footage, race data and content and its credits include Dale and The Ride of Their Lives,
NASCAR-themed movies for Viacom distributed on TV and via DVD.

I hope to be able to see this. If it’s possible, I hope to give you a review of this production.