C21Media:
Two new dedicated 3D television channels are set to launch in the US, with sportscaster ESPN debuting its offering this year, and Discovery teaming up with Sony and Imax for a joint-venture network in 2011.
The first broadcast by Disney-owned ESPN's ESPN 3D will be the opening 2010 FIFA World Cup match on June 11.
The network is promising a minimum of 85 live 3D events during its first year, including up to 25 World Cup matches. Other 3D events will include Summer X Games, college basketball and college football.
Discovery Communications, meanwhile, is teaming up with Sony and Imax to launch what it bills as the US's first 24/7 dedicated 3D network, in 2011.
All three companies have signed a letter of intent to be equal partners in the JV, which will feature content "from genres that are most appealing in 3D," including natural history, space, exploration, adventure, engineering, science and technology, motion pictures and children's programming from Discovery, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Imax and other third-party providers.
Discovery will provide network services, including affiliate sales and technical support functions, as well as 3D rights to Discovery content and cross-promotion across its portfolio of 13 US nets. Sony will provide advertising and sponsorship sales support, and will seek to license TV rights to current and future 3D feature films, music-related 3D content and game-related 3D content, while providing cross-promotion at retail stores.
Imax will also license TV rights to future 3D films, promotion through its owned-and-operated movie theatres across the US, and a suite of proprietary and patented image enhancement and 3D technologies.
The JV will be governed by a board of directors comprising members from each of the three companies, with the day-to-day operations run by a separate staff and management team reporting to the board. A search for the venture's general manager will begin immediately.
"By partnering with Sony and Imax on 3D, Discovery will lead the way in revolutionising the next-generation home viewing experience in the US and around the world," said Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav.
"Today's announcement is the next step in fulfilling Discovery's mission of providing groundbreaking content for our affiliate partners and enlightening viewers with the most immersive and realistic viewing experience available anywhere."
ESPN said it had been testing ESPN 3D for more than two years. "This will be a meaningful step to drive adoption of 3D television sets and afford opportunities for our affiliates to create value through new product offerings, and our advertisers, who want fresh sponsorship opportunities," said Sean Bratches, ESPN's exec VP of sales and marketing.
The announcements come as the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) – one of the biggest events on the tech calendar – kicks off in Las Vegas. 3D is expected to be the dominant theme at this year's event, with 3D-ready TV sets expected to be unveiled by companies such as LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony.
In tandem with the networks' announcements, UK satcaster BSkyB has announced that its forthcoming Sky 3D TV service, launching later this year, will be compatible with "a wide range" of 3D-ready TVs being launched in the UK and Ireland in 2010, including the devices to be unveiled at CES.
Two new dedicated 3D television channels are set to launch in the US, with sportscaster ESPN debuting its offering this year, and Discovery teaming up with Sony and Imax for a joint-venture network in 2011.
The first broadcast by Disney-owned ESPN's ESPN 3D will be the opening 2010 FIFA World Cup match on June 11.
The network is promising a minimum of 85 live 3D events during its first year, including up to 25 World Cup matches. Other 3D events will include Summer X Games, college basketball and college football.
Discovery Communications, meanwhile, is teaming up with Sony and Imax to launch what it bills as the US's first 24/7 dedicated 3D network, in 2011.
All three companies have signed a letter of intent to be equal partners in the JV, which will feature content "from genres that are most appealing in 3D," including natural history, space, exploration, adventure, engineering, science and technology, motion pictures and children's programming from Discovery, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Imax and other third-party providers.
Discovery will provide network services, including affiliate sales and technical support functions, as well as 3D rights to Discovery content and cross-promotion across its portfolio of 13 US nets. Sony will provide advertising and sponsorship sales support, and will seek to license TV rights to current and future 3D feature films, music-related 3D content and game-related 3D content, while providing cross-promotion at retail stores.
Imax will also license TV rights to future 3D films, promotion through its owned-and-operated movie theatres across the US, and a suite of proprietary and patented image enhancement and 3D technologies.
The JV will be governed by a board of directors comprising members from each of the three companies, with the day-to-day operations run by a separate staff and management team reporting to the board. A search for the venture's general manager will begin immediately.
"By partnering with Sony and Imax on 3D, Discovery will lead the way in revolutionising the next-generation home viewing experience in the US and around the world," said Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav.
"Today's announcement is the next step in fulfilling Discovery's mission of providing groundbreaking content for our affiliate partners and enlightening viewers with the most immersive and realistic viewing experience available anywhere."
ESPN said it had been testing ESPN 3D for more than two years. "This will be a meaningful step to drive adoption of 3D television sets and afford opportunities for our affiliates to create value through new product offerings, and our advertisers, who want fresh sponsorship opportunities," said Sean Bratches, ESPN's exec VP of sales and marketing.
The announcements come as the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) – one of the biggest events on the tech calendar – kicks off in Las Vegas. 3D is expected to be the dominant theme at this year's event, with 3D-ready TV sets expected to be unveiled by companies such as LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony.
In tandem with the networks' announcements, UK satcaster BSkyB has announced that its forthcoming Sky 3D TV service, launching later this year, will be compatible with "a wide range" of 3D-ready TVs being launched in the UK and Ireland in 2010, including the devices to be unveiled at CES.
