ESPN to launch 3D network in June [USA Today]
Three-dimensional sports will be coming to television in June, as ESPN is planning the launch of a network dedicated to showcasing sporting events in high definition 3-D, USA Today reports. The kickoff event for the new network will be the first match of the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament, featuring host South Africa versus Mexico. Following that match, ESPN is planning 3-D broadcasts of up to 25 World Cup matches - the world's most popular sporting event - along with 60 other sporting events in the first year that are expected to include Summer X Games, NBA games, college football and basketball and the 2011 BCS National Championship.
In related news, the New York Times reports that Discovery Communications, which operates the Discovery Channel, is planning a joint venture with Sony and Imax to create a 3-D channel that will go on the air in 2011.
Neither the USA Today article nor the Times article indicate whether specialized equipment - like a 3-D HDTV, 3-D glasses or 3-D ready set-top will be required to view the new ESPN 3-D or Discovery channel. However, CableFAX reports today that CableLabs, the cable industry's research and development consortium, is already testing current cable set-tops for 3-D television compatibility and has determined that many existing set-tops have the ability to process 3-D picture signals and send them to 3-D compatible televisions via an HDMI interface.
2010 looks to be the year that 3-D moves from the cinema screen to the home theater. Watch for consumer electronics company announcements at the CE show in Las Vegas.
If 3-D is going to be all the rage in the not too distant future, will Insight offer these channels and will new set-top DVRs be needed to facilitate the enhancements?
Posted by: Scott Shanks | Monday, January 11, 2010 at 02:06 PM