More than 100 3D channels by 2014
Joseph O'Halloran ©RapidTVNews | 16-03-2011
New research into 3D by In-Stat is imploring the TV industry to reject both the hype and the pessimism it has attracted in equal quantity and projects modest growth over the next five years.In a new research study, 3D TV Services: It's a Small World, the analyst predicts that as the costs to reproduce in 3D decline over time in 2011, 3D content production will grow more quickly, especially in terms of live event coverage. However, it does caution that challenges remain.
Fundamentally, In-Stat is taking a position between the two current extremes that have to date defined the 3D discourse. That is, rejecting both what it calls early expectations of 3D TV that were over hyped and both current coverage that laments the fact that 3D has not lived up to its promise.
Recognising that 3D channels that have already been launched in North America, Europe, and Asia, In-Stat pinpoints sports, movie, documentary, and music channels as the areas most conducive to 3D development. In addition to the linear TV channels already launched, the analyst expects 3D content made more widely available on pay-TV providers’ VOD systems. It expects those who are experimenting with 3D VOD will make linear 3D channels available as well. In all, In-Stat anticipates that the number of 3D TV channels will grow to over 100 by 2014.
"Pay-TV providers around the globe who have HD systems in place have jumped on the 3D content being made available to them at a faster rate than many had expected," commented Michelle Abraham, Principal Analyst. "Many took advantage of the World Cup 3D coverage to test transmission of 3D over their networks, and some of them have now launched transmission of regular 3D TV channels. The competitive nature of pay-TV ensures that once one pay-TV distributor in a country is offering 3D, the others need to be fast followers unless they want to lose their top-tier customers."
