The first live telecast: the Mexico-South Africa game from the World Cup.

A minimum of 84 other live events will follow this year including 25 other World Cup games.

“ESPN 3D marries great content with new technology to enhance the fan’s viewing experience and puts ESPN at the forefront of the next big advance for TV viewing,” said George Bodenheimer, co-chairman, Disney Media Networks, and President, ESPN and ABC Sports.

From the ESPN press release:

ESPN has been testing ESPN 3D for more than two years. Last fall, ESPN produced the USC vs. OSU college football game which was shown in select theaters as well as to 6,000 fans at the Galen Center on USC’s campus. ESPN has developed best practices for utilizing the technology in live game applications which have provided ESPN the ability to streamline workflow operations, adjust 3D camera positioning, test transmission and gauge fan reaction to a 3D telecast versus a traditional telecast.

ESPN’s goal: to drive adoption of 3D television sets.

Oh, great. And I just got a 46-inch HD TV a little over a year ago. Wonder if I can just get away with wearing those funky cardboard glasses?