ESPN, Discovery push 3-D TV

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ESPN, Discovery push 3-D TV
By The Associated Press
January 05, 2010, 7:42PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- Two major cable networks -- ESPN and Discovery -- said today they plan to start beaming 3-D entertainment into peoples' homes for the first time.

Riding what could be one of the next big waves in consumer electronics, ESPN said it will have a 3-D channel for broadcasting live sports events in time for the FIFA World Cup soccer match on June 11. The channel will not operate 24 hours a day, but plans at least 85 live events in its first year.

Separately, Discovery Communications Inc., which owns Discovery, TLC and other cable channels, said it will partner with Imax Corp. and Sony Corp. to bring out its own full-time 3-D network in 2011.

It's yet to be seen whether 3-D can make inroads in the home. For viewers it will likely mean buying new TV sets and wearing 3-D glasses.

But enthusiasm for the new technology has been building across the industry, with electronics makers, cable and satellite companies and content providers betting that they can get consumers to shell out for new TVs and channels. They hope 3-D blockbusters such as James Cameron's "Avatar," still strong in its third week in theaters, can get enough people excited about characters popping off the screen.

Last year, 3-D films took in more than $1 billion at box offices worldwide. And major electronics makers such as Sony Corp. and Panasonic Corp. are planning to market 3-D-capable TVs this year.
 
This could lead to something or it is the equivalent of "vaporware." Every Pay-TV provider, cable; sat; etc., is surely looking forward to providing even more precious bandwidth for what might be a whole slew of 3D channels, and the extra cost to air those channels. I do believe the 3D channels will look horrid without the glasses, so the standard HD channels still have to be provided for the vast majority of customers and EVEN for 3D TV households who still need to view HD on their legacy HDTV's in other rooms.

As good as I've heard the 3D TV may be, it really could be DOA because of the facts of bandwidth life for all except FiOS, and we all know FiOS is NEVER coming to great swath of our great country, as Verizon has made clear itself. Expect some resistance from those who are still trying to deal with plain old HD and all the costs of all those additional channels: the Pay-TV providers. Have we seen BBC America HD in widespread availability yet? And that channel is, from my surfing on the net and watching TV personalities, is THE MOST requested HD channel people want NOW, and is the most lamented for its lack of availability. If we can't make that happen as of yet with all the clamoring and pressure, forget 3D TV. If the price aint right and if it is too much bandwidth, Pay-TV providers just aren't' going to be interested paying more for 3D channels when very few people will have the 3D sets.
 
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So who is really clamoring for this 3D? I think it's a bunch of hype. How many people really want to wear special glasses to watch TV? Stop with the gimmicks and just work on providing a better quality HD picture to to begin with!!!
 
What does this have to do with DISH?

Mods please move to a more appropriate area.
 
Sure it has to do with Dish......The article clearly states "But enthusiasm for the new technology has been building across the industry, with electronics makers, cable and satellite companies and content providers betting that they can get consumers to shell out for new TVs and channels."
 
Dish better not add any 3D channels, which will only be viewable to the few people who upgrade there equipment, before they add more HD channels like ESPNU, BBCA and many many more (which can already be viewed by everyone with an HDTV). I will be extremely upset if ESPN 3D shows up before ESPNU HD.
 
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