Theater-quality Advanced 3-D Blu-ray Discs to go on sale in 2011

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Advanced 3-D at-home usage, comparable in quality to today's theatrical experience, will be realized gradually, with the first commercial 3-D Blu-ray Disc releases expected no sooner than 2011, according to Futuresource Consulting.

A key obstacle to 3-D at-home adoption is the current lack of technology standards ensuring that content will reliably play on all available 3-D display devices. In the short-term, between 2009 and 2011, advanced 3-D projects will be geared primarily for theatrical release.

Yet manufacturers will be ramping for home use as they extend their launch of 3-D-ready TV sets. By 2012, about 10% of U.S. households will be equipped to view 3-D programming on TVs, according to Futuresource. It's likely that there will be a limited amount of 3-D content delivered via video-on-demand to 3-D sets.

"With over 200 million new TVs sold across the globe every year, the potential [for 3-D] is huge, but the industry needs to overcome some serious obstacles in order to kick start and fully realize the revenue streams," said Sarah Carroll, director of continuous services at Futuresource. "Most notably, technical and standards issues still need to be resolved. And the current economic climate makes new investment in production and distribution a challenge."

Yet Futuresource is optimistic that 3-D at home is achievable and predicts 3-D Blu-ray releases will start in 2011. The company projects that by 2015, U.S. 3-D TV household penetration will jump to about 70%.

"Our probability modeling shows the permeation phase will kick in from 2011, where, among other initiatives, we'll see new 3-D movie releases on Blu-ray, remasters of classic blockbusters like Star Wars, The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings," said Jim Bottoms, managing director of corporate development at Futuresource. "By 2012, more than 10% of U.S. and Japanese homes will be 3D-enabled, and Western Europe won't be too far behind with 6% household penetration. Moving forward, a new generation of videogame consoles will begin to emerge, fully embracing 3-D technologies."

Written by Suzanne Ault
- Video Business (May 6, 2009)

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Previous DVDTOWN News...
» SMPTE Outlines Requirements for New 3-D Standard (1080p/60 a must)" »
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers sets requirements for standards for the creation of 3-D stereoscopic content viewable on television sets and other home-entertainment displays.

» Blu-ray group peers into "3-D Future" »
Industry driven to deliver improved "stereoscopic" 3-D technology by 2010 or 2011.

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