Sky 3D channel pointing out of your screen in October

Sky will become the first company in Europe to cross the 3D TV frontier when, on Friday 1 October, it officially launches Sky 3D.

Sky 3D will at first show mainly sport and some of the latest movies, kicking off its maiden weekend with live coverage of the Ryder Cup golf, interspersed with the first 3D TV showings of kids films Bolt and Monsters vs Aliens. Sky has been testing its 3D channel for some time, recently introducing Sky Sports 3D into pubs.

Between its launch and Christmas, Sky's master plan is to expand the number of films it shows -- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is on the slate, for example -- and will broadcast as many big sporting, arts and entertainment events it can get its 3D cameras to, including many Premier League football matches.

Unlike the complicated introduction of high definition, Sky 3D will be available to all Sky+HD customers without the need for any expensive or complicated upgrades. It does, however, require you to have a 3D-ready TV.

These tellies -- like the fabulous Samsung C8000 -- are necessarily at the expensive end of this years' ranges, but Sky 3D will work with both passive and active technology, so it doesn't matter which style you plump for. Whichever, you'll still need the Austin Powers-style specs.