ESPN launching 3D channel this June in time for World Cup

We've already mentioned that 3D home entertainment is going to be a big trend this year, starting this week at CES 2010. Well, now the networks are going 3D themselves, starting with ESPN.

According to USA Today, ESPN 3D will launch on June 11, just as the World Cup in South Africa gets underway. Other sports to be featured in the next year are the Summer X Games as well as college basketball and football.

However, they're only planning to air 85 events live in the next year, so the station will be off-air most of the time. But it is just getting off the ground, and a lot of tech execs are praising the innovations in this genre of entertainment, including CES CEO Gary Shapiro, who's calling it "a turning point for 3D."

To get the full 3D effect, you'll need a set-top box (which we'll see plenty of this week) that has this feature. Additional cable costs aren't clear yet, but I'm sure there will be some. This isn't ordinary television we're talking about here.

I cannot wait to watch college football in 3D, especially since it's so rare that I actually get to see a game in person. Of course, it will never be the same, but it will be a whole new experience. If only this were here in time for the Winter Olympics next month. Imagine someone doing a triple axel right through your living room.

[Note: That is not the ESPN 3D channel pictured above. It's ESPN 360.]