There are still some disconnects about when 3D TV will become part of the American cable viewer landscape.
Comcast has announced that it will carry ESPN 3D when it launches in June--including riveting coverage of the FIFA World Cup match between South Africa and Mexico that no doubt will send millions of Americans scurrying to Best Buy to get new TVs. Verizon, which was previously a little behind on the 3D TV hype curve, will carry the 3D feed of this summer's Major League baseball games, including the Seattle Mariners versus the Yankees. And movie mogul James Cameron has said that 3D will replace 2D as the standard format for film, television and online content in 25 years. Of course we'll all be driving flying cars that use recycled garbage by that time as well.
But just when the excitement hits its peak, someone has to go and pop the balloon. In this instance, it's Glenn Britt, chairman, president and CEO of Time Warner Cable who held the pin during a panel session at the Cable Show. Pointing out that HD took quite a while to reach near-ubiquity, Britt suggested that 3D TV might need a similar curve and there's nothing that programmers or service providers can do about it.
"Let's let the consumers tell us. I think it can't be us pushing," he suggested.
For more:
- see this story
- and this article on 3D baseball games
- and comments from James Cameron
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