Sports fans winners as 3D TV trials kick off

Sports fans will be the first to savour television in 3D.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) today granted Nine and SBS temporary licences to conduct "scientific trials of 3D TV".

ACMA has not clarified the purpose of the trials, but the start and finish date of the licences - May 19 and July 19 - do offer a clue for those who keep a sports calendar handy.

Advertisement: Story continues belowThose dates cover Nine's broadcast of the rugby league State of Origin and SBS's broadcast of the soccer World Cup.

The broadcasts allow the channels to broadcast "3D high definition television to viewers with access to 3D-enabled digital television receivers".

The licences cover Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and Wollongong.

"ACMA supports the development and demonstration of new broadcasting technologies and is pleased to be able to assist with the trialling of 3D TV," ACMA's chairman Chris Chapman said.

Chapman said the authority also understood retailers would use the trials to showcase the first generation of 3D television receivers to consumers.

"It is important people are aware that these trials have only been approved for this two-month period," he said.