Launch of 3D televisions
3D television in Europe
The year 2010 marks the true start of the launch of 3D TV sales for the European market, with a growing list of compatible TV shows and movies planned for the new system. After successfully promoting the technology, companies like Samsung, Sony and Philips are rushing to launch their 3D TVs in Europe.
Sony CEO Howard Stringer recently stated that the Japanese company will soon launch its first 2010 Bravia LCD TV and a Blu-ray compatible 3D TV. The PlayStation 3 home console is also part of the Nippon 3D giant’s plans, both for movies in Blu-ray format and for games. The console should be compatible by simply updating its firmware. This update will require the necessary 3D glasses to present the screen in full 3D format.
Most of the major manufacturers that have attended various technology fairs have revealed their intentions for 3D TV: For example, Philips, the Dutch conglomerate has presented a prototype LCD 3D TV that uses a ratio of 21/9e and indicates that Blu -ray for 3D is also under study. But Philips said it will go to market when consumer demand is relatively high.
Multimedia content for 3D television
At Panasonic, the company has the opportunity to introduce a complete home theater compatible 3D TV system, already shipping in the US and based on Blu-ray. They believe that Blu-ray discs should lead the 3D television revolution. The Blu-ray Disc Association has stated that it intends to support Blu-ray for 3D content.
The new BD3D standard already has as many fans as Disney, and the audio/video industry has to press its full weight to accelerate its adoption by much of the entertainment industry. This, however, is a complex task because many entertainment professionals have already had to make significant investments in recent years to move to high definition and are not necessarily willing to reinvest in new equipment for 3D TV. However, industry heavyweights are already racing in the race to upgrade to new 3D technology. In addition to Disney, News Corp. and Rupert Murdoch intend to position themselves early in this market. Thus, the BSkyB satellite television service, available in the United Kingdom, intends to have its first 3D channels in 2010.
Knowing that News Corp. also has a collection of channels in Italy and, more recently, in Germany, so a large part of the European viewers could benefit from this technology in late 2010 and early 2011.
Cost of 3D television technology
In the United States, News Corp. already offers 3D programming on its flagship channel, Fox and DirecTV, and is planning more broadcast packages using this technology. In France, Orange has also launched experiments in 3D TV, but for now they have not yet decided on the precise planning for a commercial launch of this technology in France.
With so many companies already beginning to implement 3D television technology, cost remains an unknown factor. In the US it costs between $1,000 and $2,500 (depending on screen diagonal) to purchase a 3D compatible projector, such as those offered by Mitsubishi DLP. LCD manufacturers are still setting their price levels for product launches in various countries and we will have to wait closer to the time of sale to get an idea of the exact price. The expectation for the arrival of the products is high and many wait with cash in their hands to purchase 3D televisions.
