Football fans could soon get closer than ever to the action without even leaving their chairs as two networks announced plans for 3-D TV networks this year.
Sky and Disney's ESPN will both launch in the coming months, with ESPN airing a minimum of 85 sporting events, including 25 World Cup finals matches from South Africa.
Sky will get the ball rolling on Monday by filming the English Premier League clash between Arsenal and Manchester United in 3-D and broadcasting it to selected pubs across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
It will be the first live 3-D TV sports event broadcast to a public audience anywhere, according to the company part-owned by News International.
Sky 3D will be launched in April before it is later made available to all Sky+HD customers for a wider range of content including documentaries and movies.
The move into 3-D broadcasting follows hotly on the success of James Cameron's 3-D movie Avatar, which this week became the highest-grossing movie worldwide partly due to 3-D engagements.
ESPN will roll out its 3-D network in June beginning with the World Cup match between hosts South Africa and Mexico in Johannesburg.
