"Avatar" has shown that 3D is ready for movies, or perhaps vice-versa. ESPN is going to make the same statement for television, and plans to launch a 3D channel starting in June.
ESPN is a division of Disney. On Tuesday it announced that ESPN 3D, which it claims is the industry's first 3D TV network, will launch in June. The new channel will air a minimum of 85 live sporting events during its first year.
According to ESPN, the ESPN 3D channel's first broadcast will be a June 11 World Cup soccer match between South Africa and Mexico. Other events to be produced in 3D include up to 25 World Cup matches, the Summer X Games extreme sports, college basketball and football, including next year's BCS National Championship game in Glendale, AZ, on January 10.
Of course, at this point, ESPN has not yet announced how it might work through a few of the issues that exist. For example, a dearth of 3D hardware in households would limit the target audience. Would customers need a special set top box? Would they need Avatar-style 3D glasses?
Despite this, it's a perfect time for ESPN to announce this, with the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. Sean Bratches, an ESPN executive vice president for sales and marketing said, "We're going to assess the viability of this as we did with all our businesses." ESPN is confident, but not foolish, and has only committed to ESPN 3D for 12 months.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned CES has something to say. Consumer Electronics Association CEO Gary Shapiro says the ESPN 3D announcement parallels where HDTV was six years ago. "This is a turning point for 3D," he says.
ESPN has been testing 3D for more than two years. Last fall it produced the college football game between USC and Ohio State in select theaters and on the USC campus.
Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com
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