• by Wayne Friedman , July 1, 2010

Adding to its lineup of 3D channels, DirecTV launched three 3D channels on Thursday, highlighted by a series of upcoming top sports events.

One channel, called n3D, will be available to DirecTV customers for free and has Panasonic as a major sponsor/partner. That channel, available on DirecTV channel number 103, is a linear channel viewable on 3D TV sets, including Panasonic's line Viera HD/3D TVs.

The free 3D channel will be running this weekend's Nascar Coke Zero 400 car race; the local broadcast of the New York Yankees-Seattle Mariners series, July 10-11; and the national 3D broadcast of Fox Sports 2010 MLB All-Star Game on July 13.

Other programming on the channel includes "Guitar Center Sessions with Peter Gabriel" and "Jane's Addiction," "Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia," "Wild Safari: A South African Adventure" and "S.O.S Planet," "African Adventure: Safari in the Okavango" and "Encounter in the Third Dimension."

Other channels include DIRECTV Cinema, located on channel 104, offering IMAX titles "Deep Sea 3D" and "Under the Sea 3D." The third channel "n3D On Demand" sits on channel 105. This one has been delivering re-airs of ESPN's 3D coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches.

Before this announcement, DirecTV launched ESPN 3D on channel 106 on June 11. The channel has been airing World Cup soccer coverage.