As Europe’s first 3D channel, Sky 3D, prepares to start broadcasting this weekend, the Digital Video Broadcasting Project (DVB) says it has begun work on establishing a unified standard for 3D TV.

April 1, 2010 — Manufacturers are clambering over one another to bring their 3D devices to the consumer market this spring, having spent much of the year hyping up the new technology. And, while 3D Blu-ray has already been standardised, the various different technologies for 3D TV remain untamed. In answer to this, the Digital Video Broadcasting Project (DVB) has announced plans to introduce a common format; we can expect the first phase of the process to be complete within 2010. The first phase will focus on the display side of the technology, meaning viewers will be able to use their existing receivers when Phase 1 comes into effect. Phase 2 will define compulsory capabilities for receivers, and could therefore mean viewers have to update their set-top boxes.