Here’s the game-changer: BSkyB is thinking about broadcasting the April 29th Royal Wedding in 3D. TV experts wonder if Prince Williams’ wedding to commoner Kate Middleton might be the technology boost that the Queen’s 1953 Coronation was when many England’ers bought their first TV sets to watch that royal spectacle. And it may be that people worldwide do the same thing for this wedding and 3D. Sales of 3D TV sets in the U.S. have been modest so far. (Screen Digest predicts there will be only 4.7 million 3D TV sets installed in the U.S. by the end of 2011.) If Sky does go ahead with 3D then it will feed those signals to its international news affiliates. But BBC Vision boss Jana Bennett sounds pretty unenthused about the prospect of the BBC filming in 3D though — “although I can see an archive argument,” she tells me.
The Beeb will definitely be filming next April’s wedding in high-definition. TV technology consultant Chris Forrester thinks that broadcasters will use the Royal Wedding to promote HD to those who haven’t yet upgraded to HDTV sets/receivers.
UK broadcasters will be hoping for record viewing figures in what could be the most watched TV event in history. A total of 28.4 million British viewers tuned in to watch Prince Charles marry Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. Over 750 million tuned in worldwide to see that wedding dress trail up the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral. Media outlets including the BBC and BSkyB already have met with Buckingham Palace officials at Clarence House, the Prince of Wales’s official residence, to discuss broadcasting arrangements for next April’s Royal Wedding. My source says nothing was decided and the meeting was just a meet-and-greet.
The big news about who is going to be the lead broadcaster will be announced in the New Year. However, the likelihood is that the BBC will have that job providing pool footage for every broadcaster around the world to use. (“Otherwise,” the BBC’s Bennett tells me, “too many people will be falling over each other’s camera cables.”) U.S. broadcasters will have access to these live pool feeds. But who will oversee the pool footage? And will U.S. broadcasters be charged for it? My guess is that it may be handled the same as Prince William and Kate’s engagement interview. ITN, the news arm of ITV, filmed it and sold it internationally with revenue going to a charity of the young couple’s choice.


If I get a 3D TV it will be to watch films and sports, not to see these two clowns get married. Why are people still interested in the royal family?
Because the Monarch of England still has certain absolute powers which they have not exercised in over a 100 years, but they could, since its provided to them by law & charter. That’s why people still care who sits on the throne.
Why are people still interested in films and sports ?
I kinda doubt it. I think the release of Avatar in 3D DVD will boost 3D TV sales, but not a royal wedding. The days when the royals could captivate the world has long passed; it’s a throwback to Who Killed JR, Roots and Upstairs Downstairs, back when we only had 3 channels and life was far more innocent.
I think, unfortunately, you are wrong. One particular demographic (read: women)will be all over this shit. Think about it.
Women have made “The Real Housewives of (wherever)”, “The Hills”, and all the crappy shows allegedly showing “celebrities” living their lives among the top rated shows on cable. Compared to some of those pieces of garbage the Royal Wedding would actually be an upgrade (I would rather shoot myself than watch, however).
If you care that much by all means throw yourself a Wedding Party, but like I said, it’s gonna have to compete with Maury and The View; the days of 40 shares for TV are long gone.
Vomit. I’d rather watch 3 hours of Prince Harry on a bender in Smell-o-vision.
I could see this event being broadcast in 3-D.
But to boost 3-D television set sales, I suspect that several more high-profile news and sports events in 2011 and 2012 (the final space shuttle launch, Super Bowl XLVI in early 2012, and much of the TV coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics) would also have to be 3-D.
I’m in total agreement about films being the forefront of the 3D upgrade. 3D is about the thrill of being thrown into a world. Not sure the world I would choose, would be a church!
And Ainsley Bowmer shouldn’t make such definitive judgements about people they don’t know – royal family or not.
I think my grandmother might watch it on her black and white tube TV. I might glance at some pics of the event on my Ipad. A royal wedding? It’s the 21st century. Off with their heads.
Gee, I wish I hadn’t retired so I could take off a day to watch. But since I do not work I can not take a day off so I’ll have to miss King George’s Revenge. At least this lad looks more like his mother than his father. But as soon as the wedding is done off to the Saxon Shore and do some defending. Last trip to England we saw those Anglo-Saxon bums everywhere-worse than the Normans I am told although not as bad as we irritating Yanks. Who knew? But here is hoping William is a better man than his father; that shouldn’t be hard.
(3-D really isn’t all that good with bifocals anyway)
“Now who can argue with that? I think we’re all indebted to Robert for stating what needed to be said. I am particulary glad that these lovely children are here today to hear that speech. Not only was it authentic frontier gibberish, it expressed a courage little seen in this day and age.”
they appear to be a great couple. i hope they get thru all this media crap intact, knowing that’s all it is….it makes ya cringe a little.
I for one will be watching. Do not assume that people will not like to watch. It is fun and escapism. It is a modern day fairy tale and I loved fairy tales as a child.
Never underestimate the ignorance of the public at large. I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who are waiting with baited breath to see these royal inbreeds tie the knot in 3D. I will only be watching if they have John Madden doing the commentary.
John Madden providing the commentary……..that…that would be awesome.
John Madden’s comments on the royal weddibng would be like this:
“The minister goes here (circles Minister’s place in Westminster Abbey)………..The bride walks down the red carpet (draws arrows down the red carpet to the alter)…….The groom is here (circles Prince William)……They say their vows and exchange rings…(he circles William and Kate numerous times)..”
You forgot the “BOOM”s and “WAP”s. As to the main event, best of luck to HRH and Miss Middleton. I wish them both great happiness, and as private a life as they can get.
The devil plans to use 3D technology to come in to your house, and fool you.
The future is 3D, kind of the same way when color TV came BW TVs eventually disappeared. The same will happen with 3D.
People have said the future is 3D for some time now. It never happens. It won’t this time either.
We’ve had Heidi & Spencer’s TV “marriage”.
They’ve got Kate & William’s arranged marriage.
Six of one, half…no diff.
Both are reality shows comprising 50% genuine emotions and 50% make believe. And neither mean anything in the real world of adults.
What scares me is the 3D thing.
Because the whole purpose of 3D is to make things scarier, closer up, more in-your-face lifelike.
Make believe “royals” and “reality stars” are scary enough.
But does anyone really need to see Charles or Heidi Montag jump out from the screen in 3D and high-def?
Maybe Cameron will direct it: Avatar Royale.
not to geek out here, but I will be watching this wedding, whatever time zone, with a full pims cup in hand.
Much the same way my mother and her sisters did when Di wed in 81…. they stayed up all night to watch it.
just something about roayl weddings….
however, in 3-D… meh.
In one other article on the Drudge Report, elderly Britains are freezing to death because they cannot afford to heat their homes. The wealth of the royal family is a disgrace when so many are hurting.
There are people freezing and starving here in the US, and we’re now going to give millionaires and billionaires about $700B in tax breaks.
Americans can’t really be throwing stones here.
Will most likely be shown on the time square big screen. If so i might be one of the ones to stand and watch. Saw diana and sarah get married. Why not wills.
We will be right outside of the Cathedral! 6 of us are coming from New Orleans, Louisiana. We are very excited!
I laughed at this and said “who the hell would want to watch this?” My wife immediately said that she would….
Sky has the guys with its sport – it is aiming for the girls now.
What’s next? The wedding night in 3-D and sleaze ball charge $49.95 for the pleaseure of watching. Whatever!
So Sick of this 3D fad that Hollywood seems to be stuck on. It is all about trying to take more money from the consumer for the same product. In the words of a famouse comedian I see in 3D all the time why would I pay an extra 3 dollars
I wish someone would wipe the stupid smiles off the faces of these clowns. Its absurd the way they cheese it up for the cameras while spending a fortune of the people’s money on their “special day.” With all the “little people” who are out of work, couldn’t these jokers have a little class by having a small ceremony and giving what they would have spent to those who are struggling this holiday season? As far as I’m concerned these two are just a couple of court jesters who don’t have the sense to stop dining on caviar and champagne while the rest of us are eating hot dogs and beans. What a boob this guy is! These twits are just making a mockery of the working class. Have a ball! I’ll be at work cleaning a toilet seat!
I was forced to watch the ‘fairytale’ wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Di by my mother…as tragic as that story turned out – I believe I’ll pass on this one. I wish the couple well but see no reason to witness this circus.
Agreed!
Anyone know if you’ll be able to stream the broadcast online the day of the wedding?