content distribution 3D TV
The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in
Las Vegas is always something of a technology
show-stopper, with the latest gadgets and
gizmos seeking - and usually finding - popular
headlines amongst newspapers and web-
forums. But few could doubt the impact that
this year’s CES had, and will have, as this
broadcasting year unfolds.
Chris Forrester reports.
3D TV dominates CES
dedicated a big chunk of its huge Digital Media, CBS, Fox Sports/FSN,
25,000sq ft booth at this year’s CES to Golden Boy Promotions, HDNet, MTV,
3D products and content. “We were NBC Universal and Turner Broadcasting
aiming to make a big splash with 3D System, to develop additional 3D
at CES,” said Christopher Fawcett, VP programming that will debut this year
of Sony’s home audio and video and 2011. At launch, DirecTV will offer
group. a 24-hour, 3D pay-per-view channel
ESPN has signed up for some of this focused on movies, documentaries
year’s World Cup games from South and other programming; a 24-hour,
T
he biggest story at CES, Africa in 3D and is already highlighting 3D video-on-demand channel; and a
indeed some might justifiably an 11 June game which will kick off free 3D ‘sampler demo channel’,
argue the only story, was 3D- its 3D coverage. ESPN is promising at featuring event programming such as
TV. 3D was on display at least 85 live sporting events in 3D this sports, music and other content.
seemingly every stand, with year. As far as ESPN is concerned it DirecTV also announced it is working
the TV set manufacturers
The biggest
says it will also transmit the Summer with 3D technology vendor RealD to
outdoing one another in size, image story at CES, X Games (for extreme sports) in 3D as deliver high-definition 3D movies and
quality and versatility. Helping drive
indeed some
well as NBA games, plus college TV programming to subscribers. The
the interest along was the $1 billion
might
football and basketball. satellite operator said content
of box-office revenues taken by
Hollywood’s latest 3D blockbuster, and
justifiably
US pay-TV giant DirecTV says it will providers will be able to use RealD
speaker after speaker extolled the
argue the
launch 3D with three dedicated tools to format their 3D content; the
channels this June, and has signed up RealD-formatted 3D content is
virtues of the new technology.
only story,
Panasonic to sponsor the activity. compatible with DirecTV's current HD
Major broadcasters and pay-TV was 3D-TV. DirecTV, calling 3D ‘the next frontier of satellite broadcast and on-demand
platforms used CES to highlight their
3D was on
television entertainment’, said its HD systems and works with its existing
own 3D plans, not least sports giant
display at
subscribers will receive a free HD set-top boxes.
ESPN and factual broadcaster
Discovery (which is partnering with
seemingly
software upgrade that will enable As part of the agreement, RealD has
them to have access to three granted DirecTV a license to use the
Sony and exhibitor IMAX) which both
every stand.
dedicated 3D channels through RealD format and associated 3D
promised 3D channels sooner than compatible 3D television sets, such as technology patents. "We look forward
later. Sony is a main sponsor of this Panasonic's Viera Full HD 3D TVs. "We to working with RealD and our
year’s FIFA World Cup soccer-fest, and led the way with HD and we are programming providers to deliver 3D
is using the billion-eyeball event to excited to do the same with 3D," content later this year to owners of
push 3D television around the planet. DirecTV Entertainment executive vice 3D-capable TVs - no new set-top
“It is clear to us that consumers will president Eric Shanks said in a boxes will be required," DirecTV’s CTO
always migrate to a better and richer statement. Romulo Pontual said. The RealD
entertainment experience, and DirecTV and Panasonic said they format uses a side-by-side 3D
together we are determined to be the will ‘leverage current relationships’ formatting technology to use channels
leader in providing that around the with programming partners and in the existing HD broadcast
world,” said Howard Stringer, Sony’s movie studios to procure new and infrastructure. DirecTV has chosen to
CEO. More than any other top-tier TV existing 3D content. DirecTV is use the side-by-side method as its
maker, Sony is betting big on 3D and currently working with AEG/AEG primary method of delivering 3D
8 l ibe l january/february 2010 l www.ibeweb.com
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