Sky switches off 3D

European satcaster Sky is axing its dedicated 3D channel in the UK and moving its programming online.

David Attenborough’s
Flying Monsters

Sky 3D, which launched in 2010, airs shows such as Sir David Attenborough’s documentary Flying Monsters, as well as live sports coverage and movies including Avatar.

However, Luke Bradley-Jones, brand director of TV products, said the channel would be removed in June with programming then only available via its on-demand services.

“The changes to 3D are all part of making our on-demand offering a fantastic destination for customers,” Bradley-Jones said in a Sky blog. The satcaster recently reported that its UK and Irish customers had downloaded more than 300 million shows in the last three months via its connected TV service, up 60% on the same time last year.

Sky 3D’s closure comes 16 months since the company said it was committed to the technology, despite the exit of John Cassy, Sky’s head of 3D. Operational responsibility had passed to Jonathan Licht, director of strategy and planning for Sky Sports, following Cassy’s exit.

The satcaster also owns a stake in Colossus, a 3D-focused prodco that was created as part of a joint venture with London-based indie Atlantic Productions. At the time this article was published, C21 had not heard back from Sky over the futures of the 3D channels it operates in Germany, Austria and Italy.

Sky becomes the latest operator to reduce its 3D offerings, with the BBC pulling back from the technology in 2013 as ultra-HD 4K became more popular.

However, earlier this year Discovery Channel ordered a 3D series fronted by actor Richard E Grant about the seven deadly sins, which is set to air in Latin America and the UK.

It follows the news that the satcaster would be scaling back original commissions for its Sky Living channel, instead focusing its originations budget on Sky1 and using Living purely for acquisitions. Channel director Antonia Hurford-Jones is leaving after four years with the company.