X Games 17 comes to Virgin Media in 3D

ESPN's 3D coverage of the Summer X Games has become available today from Virgin Media's video on-demand platform.

Following a recent 3D collaboration agreement with Discovery, Virgin Media's XL TV subscribers can now enjoy on-demand access to sporting events such as BMX Street, Women's Moto X Racing and Men's Skateboard Vertical elimination in 3D.

The X Games 17, organised by Disney-owned broadcaster ESPN, featured 200 competitors engaging in various events at the Staples Centre and Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles from July 28 to 31. The event was attended by 142,000 fans, the biggest audience since X Games 10 in 2004.

Earlier in the year, Sky aired the Winter X Games in Apsen on its Sky 3D channel, featuring various ski and snowboard events captured by ESPN with 15 different 3D cameras.

ESPN has become a pioneering force in live 3D sports coverage, developing a range of 3D camera positioning techniques and workflow operations to enhance the emerging TV technology.

The broadcaster develops its 3D techniques and processes at the ESPN Innovation Lab in Orlando, part of the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World.

ESPN recently announced that the X Games would expand to six events around the world from 2013, bolstering the existing tournaments in Los Angeles, Aspen and Tignes, France. The three new events will be announced in spring 2012.