January 5 – Television entered a new dimension today as United States sports broadcaster ESPN said it will show some matches from this year’s World Cup live from South Africa in 3D.
The new “ESPN 3D” service plans at least 85 live sporting events during its first year, starting with the opening World Cup match between South Africa and Mexico on June 11, ESPN and ABC Sports president George Bodenheimer said.
Up to 25 World Cup matches will be shown on what ESPN called “the industry’s first 3D television network” along with college basketball, college football and other US domestic sports events.
“It brings a sense of ‘wow’ when you watch a football game,” said ESPN’s vice-president for technology, Chuck Pagano.
“It’s just a new universe for watching TV.”
The ESPN announcement came as representatives of leading electronics firms from around the world gathered in Las Vegas for the annual International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
It follows the deal struck between FIFA, the sport’s governing body, and electronics giant Sony last month.
FIFA has granted Sony the right to record up to 25 games from the tournament in South Africa, for broadcast in demonstration booths at FIFA events in Berlin, London, Mexico City, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome and Sydney.
Sony also will produce and distribute the official 3D film of the 2010 World Cup after the event.
Japanese and South Korean television manufacturers have been pushing 3D TV in the home for some time now but its growth has been stunted by a lack of programming, the need to wear special glasses and the high price of 3D sets.
Last month’s release of science fiction blockbuster “Avatar,” a 3D film by “Titanic” director James Cameron, has renewed interest in 3D, however, and some industry leaders believe the time has come for 3D TV in the home.
“This will be a meaningful step to drive adoption of 3D television sets,” said ESPN executive vice president of sales and marketing Sean Bratches.
“This is a turning point for 3D,” Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) chief executive Gary Shapiro said.
“In 3D, as with all other technologies, there’s slow uptick and then it goes very quickly,” said Shawn DuBravac, CEA chief economist and director of research.
According to CEA estimates, nearly 4.3 million 3D TVs will be sold in 2010 and by 2013 more than 25 per cent of all TVs sold will be 3D.
Bodenheimer said ESPN 3D puts the Walt Disney-owned company “at the forefront of the next big advance for TV viewing.”
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December 2009: South Africa 2010 set to be shown in 3D