ACMA backhands Channel 9 over 3D

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has refused to provide Channel Nine with a new trial licence for the 3D broadcast of the 2010 National Rugby League grand final.

Viewers may miss out on seeing the NRL grand final in 3D after the ACMA denied PBL's request for another trial licence. (Broncos/Dragons image by JunkByJo, CC2.0)

The communications regulator attributed its decision to Nine's failure to submit a technical report on the previous 3D TV trial carried out in the months up to July.

"Nine has not yet delivered a report on its previous 3D TV trial to the ACMA. Providing a report on consumer, reception, interference and technical issues was a condition of the previous 3D TV trial licence," the ACMA said in a statement today.

The report was due no later than 30 days after the trial concluded.

The ACMA has said that no further trial licences would be issued to Nine until the report had not only been submitted, but considered by the regulator — a process that may not be completed until the final whistle on the 2D broadcast has been blown.

ZDNet Australia contacted Channel Nine parent PBL for comment, but none was received at the time of publication.