U.S. Open to go 3-D

NEW YORK, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Panasonic, CBS Sports and the U.S. Tennis Association will produce 3-D versions of the U.S. Open on Labor Day and finals weekends, organizers say.

The USTA said Wednesday Panasonic has become an official sponsor of the U.S. Open in a new three-year contract.

A news release said working with CBS Sports, the USTA and Panasonic will spearhead the first-ever 3D broadcasts of the tournament. CBS Sports will produce 3-D versions of all the Arthur Ashe Stadium matches that it broadcasts in high definition on Labor Day weekend and on finals weekend, Sept. 10-12.

The release said the matches will be made available nationwide via DirecTV's dedicated 3-D entertainment channel, "n|3D Powered by Panasonic" (DirecTV channel 103).

Panasonic will have three 3-D viewing galleries on site at the open, the release said: a 3-D Panasonic Showcase located in the former International Tennis Hall of Fame Gallery on the floor level of Louis Armstrong Stadium, another in SmashZone, the U.S. Open's interactive tennis experience and one more in the South Plaza area.

Panasonic and DirecTV also will provide the U.S. Open semifinal and final matches live in 3-D to hundreds of TV retail outlets nationwide, including scores of Best Buy stores, as part of the Sept. 10-12 coverage organized by the Consumer Electronics Association, the release said.