The recent commercial success of several 3D feature films is driving demand for 3D HDTV at home, according to USA Today.
The commercial success of films like Meet the Robinsons and Beowulf, which sold double the tickets in 3-D versus standard versions, is driving the trend. Then came Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D last month, the first live-action film shot entirely in 3D. [The film will be screened at IBC in Amsterdam next month, followed by a Q&A with Academy Award-winning visual-effects veteran Eric Brevig.] Walt Disney Animation Studios said it would begin making all its computer-animated films in 3-D beginning with Bolt, which is due in November.
There’s “a high level of enthusiasm” for 3D movies that consumers also can watch at home on high-definition TVs, Chris Chinnock, of 3D@Home Consortium, told the newspaper “3D is a nice driver in theaters, but it needs a path to the home.”
Disney, Universal, Philips, Samsung, Sony, Thomson and IMAX are currently examining the various types of 3D technologies and home-delivery methods. These range from paper glasses to self-contained 3D displays.
By the end of this year, more than one million 3D-ready HDTVs, primarily from Mitsubishi and Samsung, will be available for sale in the U.S. These sets can display standard HD video and be connected to 3D sources. Mitsubishi’s newest 3D-ready, 65-inch LaserVue set will ship this summer, with a 73-inch model to follow.
At June’s InfoComm trade show in Las Vegas, Philips announced several new 3D displays, including a 52-inch LCD screen that does not require glasses for viewing. Also announced was the first home 3D projector, from Norwegian company Projectiondesign. Both are due later this year.
Home 3-D discs are also on the way. Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert: The 3-D Movie will be the first 3D Blu-ray Disc when it’s released this month. Also, technology company TDVision is pitching Hollywood studios with a way to make current Blu-ray Disc movies appear in 3D.
“There is going to be an evolution here. It is similar to the HDTV transition,” Mitsubishi’s Frank DeMartin told USA Today. “The next wave will be on the home video front. “
Comments (1) for "Cinema Success Drives 3D Technology for HDTV"
1.
The Active 3D Stereoscopic projector you mentioned that Projectiondesign is launching is something I looked into for a media program at a small college. I was quoted $40,000 for what is basically a DLP projector with two DVI inputs. At $40k that's 1/5th the median price of a home in my local market. I'd hardly call this device aimed at the "Home Theater" segment. Even at that steep price tag you still need active-shuttered LCD glasses, and the ones they recommend go between $300 and $900 per pair. The company rep told me that they their 3D projector was more geared towards military applications (simulations), high end scientific work, and corporate media displays. The "home theater" market would be better served by DepthQ's InFocus projector, with an MSRP of $5,999, or any of the 3D-ready Mitsubishi or Samsung rear projection sets you mentioned, or Mitsu's latest LaserVue product, due to ship very soon. Also, why no mention of how we're supposed to play that Hannah Montana 3D DVD? Right now the viable options are DepthQ Server software, which has an EDU discount price of $2,000 for the HD version, or get the free multiplexer from following the links on Texas Instrument's page, which means you've got to have a PC with a BluRay player in it... Oh, but the software as it exists (free WinXP compatable player/multiplexers) won't play copy protected material and probably doesn't support BluRay. So, yeah, this technology is great, except you can only buy the pieces, not make them work together. Want 3D? Go to your local 3D digital or IMAX equipped theater. We could use some better reporting here guys.
Posted by Wayne Woodbury on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 @ 04:05 PM
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