Discovery, Sony, IMAX launch 3D slate

Discovery has announced a slate of new 3D productions for its joint venture channel with Sony and IMAX including the world’s first 3D reality series and a number of documentaries produced by NHNZ.

The three companies are launching the 3D channel in 2011 and this announcement marks the largest commission of 3D programming since the launch of the nascent technology.

It will launch a number of documentary series, a reality project and a number of movies. This includes two series from Fox-owned New Zealand producer NHNZ; China and Jewels of the World, which will centre around sites such as the Temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Grand Canyon National Park. It will also launch Aquavision Television Productions’ Africa in 3D, Flight 33 Productions’ Abandoned Planet and Story House Productions’ Attack of the Giant Jellyfish as well as two projects from IMAX including Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D, which is narrated by Tom Hanks, and underwater series Into the Deep.

Its first reality project is The Haunted, produced by Picture Shack Entertainment, that uses infrared cameras to follow a paranormal team investigating strange happenings.

Movies will include Sony’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Monster House.

The number of 3D series has been limited despite the noise around the technology and a number of high profile channel launches including Sky 3D in the UK (which has Atlantic Productions’ Flying Monsters 3D) and DirecTV’s US channel.