Sensio Launches 3DGO! Advertising Campaign In Theatres Across USA For It's Service

SENSIO Technologies Inc. (“SENSIO”) (TSX-V:SIO) has announced the launch of its first advertising campaign in the United States for its 3DGO! service.

Beginning July 17th, the new 3DGO! native 3D ad will be seen by millions of moviegoers in select theaters across the U.S. in National CineMedia (NCM)’s FirstLook pre-show program in front of select 3D films including “Minions” and “Ant-Man.” NCM is America’s Movie Network, with nearly 50 leading national and regional theater circuit affiliates including AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc. and Regal Entertainment Group. These films are expected to be two of summer’s biggest blockbusters with Minions opening last weekend to a record-breaking $115 M while Marvel’s Ant-Man is projected to draw $65 M during its first weekend.

“We are absolutely thrilled with this first cinema advertising campaign which heralds the beginning of our widespread 3DGO! awareness efforts,” said Nicholas Routhier, President and CEO of SENSIO. “Our 3DGO! customers are first and foremost huge 3D movie fans and reaching out to them in theatres before the viewing of a favorite 3D movie seemed only natural. We firmly believe that this effort will contribute to the accelerated growth of new 3DGO! users and help us in reaching our goals in terms of users, rentals and revenues.”

The ad is available on the Facebook page of 3DGO!

3DGO! is the world’s first and only dedicated 3D transactional VOD service offering the largest selection of high-quality 3D content, including some of the latest 3D Hollywood blockbuster titles, via internet streaming to 3D smart devices. The application offers consumers quick and easy access to an ever-growing library of varied 3D content which SENSIO is committed to continue developing. Neither subscription nor additional playback equipment is required making it a simple, inexpensive and ideal way to watch 3D in the home. 3DGO! uses the award-winning SENSIO® Hi-Fi 3D technology, a unique frame-compatible technology providing high-fidelity stereoscopic images while using conventional 2D channels. The application is currently available in the US and Canada on select 3DTVs. For a list of compatible devices and available movies, please visit www.3DGO.com.

For further information on SENSIO and its technologies, please visit www.sensio.tv

Source: BoxOfficeMojo.com 

About SENSIO Technologies Inc. (SENSIO):

Founded in 1999, SENSIO Technologies Inc. (www.sensio.tv) is a pioneer in the field of stereoscopic 3D imaging and of 3D content distribution at home. For over 15 years, SENSIO has been developing, patenting and marketing advanced 3D image processing technology providing superior image quality as well as a simple user friendly experience. Its award-winning technology, SENSIO ® Hi-Fi 3D, can be found in millions of products for the cinema, distribution and consumer electronics markets worldwide.

Today, SENSIO uses its technologies and 3D expertise to deliver its video-on-demand service, 3DGO!, the first 3D-dedicated service offering Hollywood blockbuster movies directly to consumers. SENSIO works with some of the biggest brands in the consumer electronics industry and the film industry to become the destination of choice for 3D movie fans. 3DGO! aims to become the largest distributor of 3D content for the consumer market in the world.

SENSIO is listed on the Toronto TSX Venture Exchange (SIO)

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements and are subject to important risks, uncertainties and assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements. For more exhaustive information on these risks and uncertainties, the reader should refer to the risk factors described in the management's discussion and analysis of SENSIO for the quarter ended February 28, 2015. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent our expectations as of the date hereof. We disclaim any intention and assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are presented for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to obtain a better understanding of our anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SENSIO® is a registered trademark of SENSIO Technologies Inc

Looking forward to seeing the ad and using the technology ASAP! More news on this as soon as we get it - I know many of you are seeking 3D content for your smart 3D TVs. This is amazing!

Sony Announces First 4K, Passive 3D TV: 1080P For Each Eye!

**Editor's Note: Welcome Adam Shear! Adam attends SUNY Oswego in upstate NY where he studies broadcasting and mass communication. He has contributed to LevelSave.com and TripTronicTech.com and I'm excited to have him aboard.

Adam here. After an impressive showing of 4K projection technology at CES, Sony has finally announced its first ever 4K television. 4K, also called Ultra High Definition, has four times a greater picture than 1080p HD.

The Sony XBR-84X900 will be 84 inches and capable of displaying native 4K content. This Ultra High Definition set is also Sony's first TV to use passive 3D technology. Because there are more pixels, you can finally get a full 1080p picture in each eye. It also has virtual 5.1 surround sound built in to the speakers.

While there is no native 4K content available now, it could come soon in the form of digital content stored on hard drives.  In a brochure I received from Sony at CES, it was explained that Blu ray disc players can be upgraded to play native 4K, the same way in which upgrades were needed to play Blu ray 3D content.   

Select Sony stores will have the XBR-84X900 on display starting September 6 with it releasing sometime in the near future, I would guess in the next six months to a year. 

I'm really glad to finally see a 4K TV from Sony.  At CES this past year, I attended their 4K Experience which showed off not just native 4K content, but also 1080p content up-scaled to 4K.  I was really impressed.  It also makes perfect sense for Sony to move to passive 3D.  Now that users can get a full 3D HD picture, there really isn't a need to buy a $100 pair of battery powered glasses.  It's just easier to get a $10 pair of glasses with no technology inside of them.  It might take a few years for 4K to really catch on, but 4K will really enhance the home theater experience, even more so than 1080p HDTVs currently have.

TITANIC Hits Blu-ray 3D In September!

Finally we are going to be able to enjoy James Cameron's top two grossing movies (that just so happen to be the top two grossing movies of all time) in 3D and in our homes. We heard about AVATAR and now it's TITANIC's turn.

You can pre-order the Titanic Blu-ray 3D right now.

Here's the press release:
The two billion-dollar box office phenomenon and winner of 11 Academy Awards®, TITANIC, makes its highly anticipated debut on Blu-ray 2D and 3D on September 14, 2012 from Paramount Home Media Distribution and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Available in high definition for the first time ever, James Cameron’s timeless and unforgettable tour de force will be presented in stunning 2D and 3D, providing a cinematic in-home experience of TITANIC like never before. Marking 101 years ago today that the RMS Titanic was launched into the Belfast Lough, film fans worldwide can now pre-order the epic love story on Blu-ray 2D or Blu-ray 3D™ with participating online retailers.

Cameron commented, “Blu-ray extends TITANIC’s immersive 3D theatrical experience into audiences’ homes, where their living room becomes the backdrop for big spectacular environments and intense action, as well as profoundly intimate human moments, allowing generations of fans—new and old—to truly become part of the movie like never before.”

Presented in a four-disc 2D Blu-ray/DVD combo pack with Digital Copy or, for the ultimate experience in fully immersive 3D, in a four-disc Blu-ray 3D and 2D combo pack with Digital Copy, this high-definition presentation of TITANIC is a must have for film fans’ home media collections. Both sets feature more than 2 1/2 hours of new bonus footage never-before-released on disc, including a fascinating in-depth exploration of the film with James Cameron, as well as documentary footage produced by National Geographic with James Cameron that brings the world’s leading RMS Titanic experts together to solve the lingering mysteries of why and how the “unsinkable” ship sank.

The sets also boast previously released special features including 30 deleted scenes, over 60 behind-the-scenes featurettes, a look at the groundbreaking visual effects, over 2,000 photos, three commentaries and much, much more. TITANIC will also be available for the first time ever for digital download.

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the roles that would make them global stars, TITANIC tells the story of the epic romance between two star-crossed lovers set against the backdrop of the legendary and ill-fated maiden voyage of the “ship of dreams.”

At Long Last The Wait Is Over: AVATAR Blu-ray 3D Freely Available For Purchase In October!

Watch the personal invitation from James Cameron to at long last purchase and enjoy AVATAR in the way it was meant to be seen: In 3D, in your home and on any 3D television set.

For the past couple of years, AVATAR 3D has been tied up in an unique marketing agreement with Panasonic that would only allow the distribution of the blu-ray 3D with a new Panasonic 3D television.

That agreement will expire on October 15th (worldwide) and the 16th (North America) and then you may buy the Avatar Blu-ray 3D in stores.

Of course by now you know that AVATAR is the highest grossing movie of all time, and by a long shot. It has resonated around the world with its cutting edge 3D experience and message of environmental awareness. Now you can own it, even if you don't own a Panasonic 3D television.


The wait is soon over!

3D Geek Alert: RED Has A Laser 3D Projector Coming - For Both Theater AND The Home!

Yes, those same crazy guys who have released the 5K Red Epics now have RED Laser Projectors on their roadmap! Now that means it is still might be quite some time from having them ship (Jannard says "sooner rather than later"), but still - judging by the comments that Jim Jannard posted on his RedUser forums - we will be in for a treat when they do hit the market.

I will go on to describe what I know about laser tech later on in the post, but to whet your appetities, here are the quotes:

Stephen Pizzo- Co-Founder of Element Technica and now partner of 3ality Technica: "After watching a demo of RED's laser projector I've been struggling to find a way to describe it. Comparing it to traditional professional systems is completely inadequate. I have never witnessed 3D that was as bright or brighter as the best 2D projections until now. It generated the best color, best dynamic range and best images I have ever seen in 3D or even 2D. When I learned we were watching at 1/4 of its total resolution I was speechless. It was so clean and so vibrant the only thing I can compare it to is Cibachrome. That's it, a giant moving Cibachrome!"

Mark L. Pederson- OffHollywood: "Aldey & I got treated to a sneak peak yesterday and we could not stop watching. You have to see it to believe it. I have NEVER seen better projection - from any projector - at any price point. I can't stop thinking about it. It was beyond stunning."

And Jannard went further to say: "We have a very narrow target.... shoot 5K, post to 4K, deliver with REDray and display with the new RED projector, 2D and 3D. Easy stuff to understand."

Moreover it is as I suspected - these projectors will be PASSIVE. So I am assuming the polarization is being done at the light source. Laser's are perfect for doing that. Laser TVs will use a similar approach to 3D. No heavy glasses any more at home and you can rest assured you will have a full HD experience at a minimum.

Further, when images are projected with conventional systems they also project the color black which actually does not turn out as such of course, more like a dark grey. With this new type of scanning laser system, the blacks ARE black because there is simply no color at all sent to the screen! And to the best of my knowledge there are no lenses in these systems whatsoever so no degradation of the image and amazing contrast.

And finally, a true solution to not projecting 3D bright enough. We can all assume that the pricepoint will be significantly lower than the competition I would wager - especially since we are talking about a home theater version too. Man I hope this all comes to fruition - AND SOON! More when I get it.

To check out all of our 3D Laser technology stories, click here.

Thanks for the heads up Mark!!

Legend3D Converts Dreamworks Animation's SHREK Trilogy To 3D For Home Viewing!

Yesterday we heard from Disney, today we are hearing from Dreamworks Animation! Legend3D has announced today that they have completed the conversion of the first three SHREK movies to 3D for home viewing!

Here is the official announcement (emphasis is mine):
SAN DIEGO (Jan. 4, 2010)—Legend3D, the leading innovator in 2D-to-3D catalog film and motion picture conversion technology, today announced that it completed the 2D-to-3D conversion of the most successful animated film franchise of all time—DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: DWA) Shrek, Shrek 2, and Shrek the Third. These titles have been bundled with the fourth 3D film, Shrek Forever After, and are now widely available via promotional offer with Samsung Electronics. Legend3D’s 3D conversion of the catalog series brings beloved 3D content into the home.

“Converting the most successful animated franchise of all time was a daunting task that has resulted in a validation of Legend3D’s high-quality conversion technology,” said Barry Sandrew, founder, COO and CTO of Legend3D. “Completing the conversion of three feature-length CG animated films, and creating such a high-quality product, was a tremendous achievement.”

Rob Hummel, president of Legend3D, added, “By working closely with the creative team at DreamWorks Animation, our artists were able to deliver a truly compelling 3D experience that enhances these great stories, extending an already rich legacy. We’re thrilled to add the Shrek collection as the hallmark of our portfolio and know that consumers will enjoy the completely immersive experience that 3D lends to the viewing of the Shrek film series at home.”

To create these valuable 3D assets, Legend3D uses a proprietary 2D-to-3D conversion process, combining skilled artistry with technology to seamlessly enhance filmmakers’ storytelling and deepen their connections with audiences. This industry-leading conversion process, pipeline and methodology, allow for existing 2D catalog films to be produced in the highest-quality 3D and is quickly becoming an access point for library holders across the globe.

The boxed set of all four films—available in 3D Blu-ray and titled Shrek: The Whole Story—makes a great cornerstone for any home 3D collection. As part of a previously announced exclusive promotional program with DreamWorks Animation, Samsung Electronics is offering consumers who purchase a 2010 Samsung 3D TV and 3D Blu-ray player or home theater system a 3D starter kit that currently includes Shrek: The Whole Story.

About Legend3D
Legend3D, Inc. is a dynamic digital media and visual effects company, utilizing patented 2D-to-3D image conversion technologies to enhance filmmakers’ storytelling by creating the highest-quality dimensional conversions possible. Legend3D’s conversion artists are helping filmmakers connect with audiences worldwide and are rapidly setting the industry standard for 2D-to-3D conversion. Legend3D has completed 3D conversions for Sony, Hewlett-Packard, M&M Mars, New Balance, the Michael Jackson Tour, MTV, and Disney and recently completed a multi-picture project for DreamWorks Animation SKG. Founded in 2001 by Dr. Barry Sandrew, Legend3D is headquartered in San Diego and operates facilities in San Diego, Los Angeles and Patna, India.

For more information, visit www.Legend3D.com.

More studio 3D conversions when I get them!! Stay tuned.

Disney Offering Up 15 Films On Blu-ray 3D In 2011!!

WOW. Talk about instant 3D content for the home! Disney has announced that 15 movies from their classic movie library will be available in Blu-ray 3D in 2011!! That brings total Disney 3D offerings to almost 20.

Included in this stunning line up are TRON: LEGACY, TANGLED, THE LION KING, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, BOLT, MEET THE ROBINSONS, TIM BURTON'S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, G-FORCE and CHICKEN LITTLE. These titles and others join the existing Blu-ray 3D lineup that already have ALICE IN WONDERLAND, DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL and STEP UP 3D on retail shelves.

“As our contemporary library of 3D content continues to grow, and the original artists and filmmakers meticulously ‘dimensionalize’ their work for release on the Blu-ray 3D format, we will be offering movie-lovers the most incredible in-home entertainment experience they will ever have,” noted Lori MacPherson, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. “In addition to offering new releases day-and-date in 3D and further cementing our leadership in the marketplace, we’re thrilled that consumers will have the exclusive Blu-ray 3D experience of two of the most celebrated Disney animated features, THE LION KING and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, in their homes.”

In addition to the film being in 3D, each disc will include thematically linked 3D menus, 3D previews of coming-attractions trailers and an introduction to the eye-popping world of Disney Blu-ray 3D featuring beloved characters Timon and Pumbaa from THE LION KING.

The first of many such library announcements! Too bad BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was not re-released in 3D theaters. I was looking forward to that as I know many were. More 3D library announcements from the studios when I get them!

Source: Disney

MUST WATCH: TRON: EVOLUTION Game Trailer And Sony's Upcoming 3D Game Line Up!!

Wow! Stunning new trailer for the upcoming TRON: EVOLUTION stereoscopic 3D game being released at the end of the year around the same time as the TRON: LEGACY movie hits our 3D theater screens.

With this game trailer you will get at least a TASTE of what is coming in the movie as well! Notice all the lines being used? The crazy depth perception in the TRON world? This movie is going to knock your socks off like nothing else before (except AVATAR of course).

My inside sources say TRON's 3D will BETTER AVATAR's so be prepared for that!

The game looks amazing. Can't wait to try it out. You will need a S3DHD TV, a Sony 3D Playstation and 3D glasses that come with the television to play it.

Other 3D games announced from Sony include GHOST RECON, KILLZONE 3, NBA 2K11, MLB 2K11, MORTAL KOMBAT, SORCERY and MOTORSTORM. Check out the Game trailer below for all the action!

Also have a look at this (I recommend clicking on the 1080p HD)!



More when I get it!!

3D Sports Set To Explode On June 11!!

Have you got your S3DHD TV yet? Well in case you haven't and you are wondering what kind of broadcast content will be available before you buy, try this on for size: The 2010 FIFA World Cup Soccer games will start airing in 40 million homes on June 11 in stunning 3D through ESPN 3D. The insanely popular tournament will be aired through Comcast, DirecTV and other distribution channels.

Not only will the sports be in S3D, but so will the commercials! ESPN is ONLY taking 3D commercials for the games and Sony has already agreed to be one of the first to air a 3D commercial for their products.

As far as the World Cup goes, ESPN 3D has actually increased the number of events being covered from 85 to about 100.

So if you want to see the games in 3D - check out the various solutions available at your nearest electronics store. I was in BestBuy yesterday and loved their Samsung set up which was showing MONSTERS VS. ALIENS. Solutions are also available through Amazon.com.

Cameron Talks Concerts And Content In Korea!

**UPDATE May 15: There is a six part video of his visit here! Thanks stormko for the headsup.

James Cameron is making quite an impact on his latest visit to South Korea! A couple of things to talk about but lets go over the surprising first:

How about Cameron working with SM Entertainment (A Korean talent agency) to create 3D music videos and concerts together? A bit of a departure if I do say so myself, but it is 3D related and he is probably taking a very light role.

SME handles such talent as Girl's Generation (the link is for a large fansite) and Super Junior. I can certainly see a synergy through a strong female connection (Cameron places women in lead roles in most of his films). It is quite a coop for SME to land him to work with them. Congratulations.

Next up, Cameron dropped by Samsung Electronic's headquarters in Suwon, Gyeonggi with his technology partner Vince Pace (pointing in photo). Cameron talked about how the manufacturers have gone ahead and provided the hardware for 3D home entertainment before the quantity of 3D content was there.

“The consumer electronics companies have set the pace by making 3-D TVs and Blu-ray players available before there is a lot of content, and this has created a content gap,” Cameron said.

“Technology will not be the pacing factor, but the creation of content will be the limiting factor.”

Cameron believes in 2D to 3D conversions for only high value classic titles like TITANIC, STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES. (I don't know if he specifically mentioned INDIANA JONES as being considered for conversion, but it would not surprise me - we know the other two are.)

Cameron also places a bit of a cap on the next big thing for media technology, saying that 3D is something that should be improved upon through higher framerates and resolution before other advances are made in different areas. Holography comes to mind for example.

James Cameron also gave the keynote speech at the Seoul Digital Forum in the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill hotel.

Nice swath cut by Cameron in Korea! His agenda must be packed to the rafters for the next oh, 20 years. Nice to see his wife coming along for the trips. More when I get it! Thanks to Jaime for the heads up on the SME story.

Best Buy - Listen Up: LLLLETS Get Ready To DEMO!

Jim here. Big box electronics retailers heed warning: No more just standing around citing specifications and pointing at flat screens! You are going to need to do more than always say "This is the set I have at home and it is great".

With the advent of S3DHD televisions you are going to have to demo it, or not have access to them! So says Panasonic. When the VT25 lineup of S3DHD plasmas come on stream in May, retail employees will have to be well versed in the technology and be able to effectively demo what the consumer will be buying.

Said Bob Perry, SVP Marketing at Panasonic: "To us, all of our retailers are really important, but if a retailer cannot properly display it we will not allow them to sell it."

From Twice.com: Panasonic sees 3D as a key differentiator for plasma technology, since it has an inherently rapid switching capability that is necessary to deliver the rapidly alternating full 1080p images to each eye of viewers equipped with special active shutter glasses.

"We believe that when they go into retail and see our 3D plasmas, the average consumer will say, "That looks better" he said. "We aren't going to trash LCD, but are going to make sure the consumer knows that if they want the best 3D experience so far, it is going to be available from Panasonic plasma."

3D TV will be a central part of Panasonic's focus in its previously announced upcoming 15-city "mini-CES" showcase that will use three touring "show booths" with a wide range of products, to hit each of the East, West and Central regions of the country, hitting heavily trafficked venues in the nation's top designated market areas.

...the tour is part of an intensive advertising and promotional blitz for 2010, estimated at around $100 million, that will see Panasonic spend twice as much on advertising some product categories, over the previous year, he said.

I am so glad that Panasonic is putting its foot down on this. Customer service at some of these retailers can be abysmal; I had a guy telling me a few days ago at one of these stores that 3DTVs will be around NEXT YEAR sometime. I hope other manufacturers follow suit. Consumers deserve the best information possible on what they are buying. S3D deserves it too.

No Worries! AVATAR S3DHD Blu-ray Out In November!!

Jim here. Rest easy AVATAR fans! James Cameron himself put to bed any notion of the 3D Blu-ray for the movie taking years to get to us. In a recent interview, he said the time frame for 3D on Blu-ray is November of THIS year.

From WSJ: “It’s all right on schedule,” said Cameron. “We’ll do the Blu-ray and the standard def DVD April 22nd, that’s our plan as of right now, and that’ll be pretty much bare bones. And then we’ll do a value-added DVD and a 3-D Blu-ray in I think November sometime.”

Also here is a clip from MTV:

All of this makes total sense. I was dumbfounded when I heard that the 3D release would be delayed. I NEVER thought it would be years as other sites conjectured - I don't know where that came from! This timing is perfect if you ask me: S3DHD televisions will be flowing in and out of CE stores starting next month and ramping up through summer / fall, and AVATAR hits just before the holidays!

Can you feel it? AVATAR in your home in stunning S3DHD by Christmas!! Potentially your home at least :-)

S3D Content For Home Coming Soon In A BIG Way!

Jim here. Just in advance of CES 2010 in Las Vegas we are getting inundated with news items for Stereoscopic 3D (S3D) content for the home! Very thrilling time. Keep in mind many are claiming to be first in developing their projects so I am just going to sit back and wait for the dust to settle before labeling any company as first.

Let's go through these important developments one at a time:

1. Next3D to launch a broadband delivered S3D home service in the first quarter of 2010 called Next3DTV. It will offer the home consumer a variety of stereoscopic 3D content, including theatrical 3D movies, films originally created for 3D IMAX theaters, movie trailers, sports, news, documentaries, live 3D weather maps, and games.

Additionally, Next3DTV (Next3DTV.com) will offer user-created content channels for stereo 3D enthusiasts to post and share stereoscopic videos and still images. Movies, special events, games and other premium content will be offered on a rental basis, while some content will be free.

“With millions of 3D-ready TVs, computers, and monitors rapidly entering the home, we’ve created Next3DTV as a one-stop-shop for the consumer to easily get great 3D entertainment and content,” said Steve Heyer, Chairman of Next3D. “Our encoding and playback technology provides an amazing viewing experience. Next3DTV wraps that experience in ease of access and convenience.”

Next3DTV will be initially available for PC’s, with support for Mac, game consoles and select set top boxes to follow. For PC users, Next3DTV will support 3D Laptops, most NetTop PCs, and modern PC’s with NVIDIA or ATI video cards.

Next3DTV will be demonstrated on the NVIDIA 3D Vision System at the 2010 Consumer Electronic Show, January 7-10. NVIDIA's widely-distributed 3D Vision technology brings immersive 3D gaming, movies, photographs, and Web browsing to personal computers. NVIDA Booth, Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 4 #35912

2. DirecTV is launching three 3D only channels this year - they just launched a new satellite which will boost their HD content by 50%. Apparently they are getting together with a major consumer electronics company to offer there S3D channels. The story originally broke at HDguru and then expanded at HollywoodInHiDef. This will likely be previewed at CES 2010 on Wed, Jan 6.

3. ESPN is launching their 3D TV network in June this year. The Walt Disney sports entity is formally calling it ESPN 3D and it will air a MINIMUM of 85 live sporting events this year. Its first broadcast will be a June 11 World Cup soccer match between South Africa and Mexico. Their will also be up to 25 total World Cup matches, Summer X Games, college football and basketball which will include the BCS National Championship game on Jan 10, 2011.

Sean Bratches, ESPN's EVP, Sales & Marketing: "This will be a meaningful step to drive adoption of 3D television sets and afford opportunities for our affiliates to create value through new product offerings, and our advertisers, who want fresh sponsorship opportunities."

4. Discovery, IMAX and Sony are teaming up to present their own S3D channel with each holding an equal stake in the enterprise. It will be distributed through Discovery Communications and will have a solid mix of 3D content including natural history, space, exploration, adventure, engineering, science and technology, motion pictures and children's programming from Discovery, Sony Pictures Entertainment, IMAX and other third-party providers. They will be holding a media call today at 3:15pm EST.

"By partnering with Sony and IMAX on 3D, Discovery will lead the way in revolutionizing the next-generation home viewing experience in the U.S. and around the world," said Discovery Communications President & CEO David Zaslav. "Today's announcement is the next step in fulfilling Discovery's mission of providing groundbreaking content for our affiliate partners and enlightening viewers with the most immersive and realistic viewing experience available anywhere."

Wow. And there are still two more days to go before CES! What's next?? Stay tuned for more info direct from the CES floor as our own Michael Stat hits Vegas in search of ultimate 3D! :-)

Next3D And Turner Broadcasting Bringing Stereoscopic 3D HD Content To The Home

Jim here. You ready for the onslaught of exciting announcements this week? I know I am! Let's start with this one!!

Next3D and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.) have entered a collaborative partnership to deploy 3D technology for the production and delivery of three-dimensional content to the emerging home 3D audience.

Next3D has Stereoscopic 3D Full high definition encoding and player technology for nearly every platform: PCs, Mac, Xbox 360, PS3, Blu-ray disc and television set top boxes. Content encoded with Next3D’s enabling technology delivers full stereoscopic 3D in 1080P high-definition to the home over a broadband, cable or satellite TV connection. Next3D has demonstrated its proven technology to the video game industry, Hollywood studios and broadcasters.

“We are uniquely positioned to provide turnkey or customizable solutions to our partners with proprietary stereo 3D encoding and playback technology that works flawlessly with off-the-shelf components already in the market and in millions of homes,” said Steve Heyer, Chairman of Next3D. “From movies to live sports to videogames, Next3D encoding delivers a stunning and immersive 3D HD experience to the living room.”

Next3D will be showcasing its technology on the NVIDIA 3D Vision System at the 2010 Consumer Electronic Show, January 7-10. NVIDIA's widely-distributed 3D Vision technology brings immersive 3D gaming, movies, photographs, and Web browsing to personal computers. NVIDIA Booth, Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 4 #35912.

About Turner
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

About Next3D
Next3D, Inc. is a leader in stereoscopic 3D technology with more than 35 years of combined experience in media, content production, and stereoscopic delivery and display. Next3D’s technology delivers stereoscopic content to the home at the highest quality, over broadband, cable and satellite connections.

And welcome Next3D as a sponsor to MarketSaw! Awesome products and an exciting time to be in S3DHD!!

DWA Fights The Good Fight: No Anaglyph 3D For MONSTERS VS. ALIENS Discs

Jim here. FINALLY! A company has stepped up and said no to the old anaglyph 3D technology that pushes those red/blue glasses and other color combinations at you.

Dreamworks Animation has officially drawn a line in the sand and said that you won't be able to watch their 3D movies at home without having the proper set up. That set up is currently in the making with standards bodies lining up specs as you read this post.

Here is what animation chief Ann Daly (via Home Media Magazine) had to say: “The movie itself was developed with the notion of doing the RealD-Dolby experience in theaters, and those specs are not ideal for the anaglyph presentation for home viewing, which still relies on glasses with colored rather than polarized lenses. It’s a completely different process, and when we started to look at how it would look in the home, we were not satisfied. We’ve been paying a lot of attention to the development of TVs that can deliver a theater-like 3-D experience, and we think if we hold off until we actually get an in-home experience that works, it would be much better than doing it early. If we did it now it would feel gimmicky rather than good.”

Absolutely!!

Daly went further to say that once the required consumer specs for end to end 3D are in place (discs, 3DTVs, etc) then DWA will release the appropriately formatted movies.

I can't believe it took this long for someone to stand up and say enough is enough! Sure the movies presented in anaglyph 3D work somewhat, but the damage they are doing to 3D home entertainment through bad word of mouth is scandalous. Hats off to DWA for the iniative.

This move however, makes me wonder why Dreamworks Animation paid all that money for an anaglyph presentation of MvsA during the Superbowl. I guess it is never too late to take corrective measures. I hope this signals the beginning of the end for anaglyph movie viewing. Sure red and blue glasses will still have their place for certain things, but they DO NOT belong with movies. Good riddance.

Panasonic Unveils Concept 3DHD (1080p) Camera Setup

Jim here. Well we knew it was going to happen, and here it is - at least in concept form. Panasonic has opened their komodo on the concept for an integrated stereo pair of 1080p cameras for shooting native 3D.

From their PR Newswire:
The system, which is expected to be the first of its kind in the industry, consists of a twin-lens P2 professional camera recorder and a 3D-compatible High Definition Plasma display. Panasonic will exhibit concept models of the 3D system at its booth (Central Hall #3712) at NAB 2009 to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada from April 20, 2009.

Each component of Panasonic's innovative 3D Full HD production system has unique features. The twin-lens P2 camera recorder enables the capturing of natural and high-quality live 3D images. Thanks to the non-mechanical solid-state construction of the P2 system, the camera recorder will be compact enough to allow more flexible 3D shooting, thereby maximizing the creativity of the filmmakers by eliminating the stress factor from the use of the equipment.

3D Full HD recording using Panasonic's proprietary P2 system also enables recording of two channels of Full HD images on the P2 card. P2's non-mechanical construction and compactness will also be incorporated into the company's 3D image recording and editing equipment to make production in the field highly flexible and efficient.

"Panasonic is continuing its efforts to enable consumers to enjoy 3D movies in the comfort of their own living rooms with its 3D Full HD Plasma Home Theater System, which incorporates a Plasma HDTV and a Blu-ray Disc player," said Dr. Paul Liao, Chief Technology Officer of Panasonic Corporation of North America. "The professional 3D Full HD image production system we are going to develop will improve the 3D production environment and accelerate creation of 3D titles."

Will this Panasonic in-the-home-3D initiative adhere to the SMPTE work that has been done and revealed recently? I will let you know when I know!

How To Get 3D Into The Home: 200 Experts Met For Six Months - Report Now Available

Jim here. I have had the privilege of viewing one of the initial copies of "REPORT OF SMPTE TASK FORCE ON 3D TO THE HOME" prepared by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE).

We are finally getting some clarity on how to accomplish this! For so long now we have been waiting for direction because for a truly elegant and pragmatic 3D motion picture industry we need to complete the cycle from theater screen to home theater screen to portable devices.

Here is what they set out to do (excerpt from report): The effort was initiated on Aug 19, 2008. At the initiation of the effort, the task force was chartered with defining “what standards would be needed to establish rapid adoption of stereoscopic A/V content from content mastering to consumption in the home via multiple types of distribution channels (e.g., packaged, broadcast, satellite, cable, internet) with consideration for downward scalability (e.g., portable/mobile).”

First of all let me tell you that they include a comprehensive glossary of terms that is certainly needed to ensure everyone is talking the same concepts as this 3D technology is booming.

Secondly they break out use cases! They examine various real life scenarios that a typical end user may encounter and they address it in their study. For example, a user wants to view 3D media on his glasses-required bedroom 3DTV, but also wants to view that same media later on his no-glasses 3DTV in his living room. Not only that but the sets are different sizes. The report sets priorities on all these use cases and their relevance to the 3D in the home standard.

Finally they expose the requirements needed for the 3D in the home standard INCLUDING resolution and frame rate. I can tell you that they set out image file requirements up to and including 1920x1080 with frame rates up to and including 60p per eye. Backward compatibility is addressed as well with 2D.

Their biggest concept is the notion of a single standard 3D Home Master which coexists with other masters after post-production and for theatrical screening. A lot of detail has gone into defining how this 3D Home Master should look and behave.

Of course they had to touch on display technologies as well - interesting read!

So I encourage you to purchase this resource from the SMPTE if you have any interest in the journey we are taking to get 3D movies and content from the big screen and into our homes. The 75 page report in PDF format sells for $20 at the SMPTE store right here. Hard copies of the report will also be on sale at the SMPTE booth at NAB.

James Cameron Endorses Panasonic's 3D Products: For On Set And At Home

Jim here. Thanks Darkoo for another great heads up! Here is a Panasonic presentation about their 3D TV systems with a testimonial from James Cameron.

Panasonic were not the only ones showing off their 3D enabled flatscreens at CES - Sony, Samsung, LG, Mitsubishi and Philips also flexed their 3D biceps. Be sure to listen to the excellent 3D TV panel discussion that Michael captured here.

James Cameron speaks briefly here about endorsing Panasonic products and the use of them on AVATAR. Michael already scrapped up the knowledge that Cameron used Panasonic's 103 inch flatscreen for their dailies.

Another very interesting item about this video is that it shows the foliage behind Cameron is GREEN - and not blue or another alien color. Is this further proof that the flora on Pandora is green and not blue? Or just a coincidence that he was standing in some hotel lobby talking about AVATAR's flora? No coincidence I think.

Personally I love Panasonic products - they seem to be tackling 3D head-on and for that, hats off.

LG Announces 3D TV For 2009

LG is one of my favorite gadget companies. We have one of their phones and a laptop too. Now comes word from Choon Lee, VP of their Digital TV Research Lab that LG will release at least one 3D TV in 2009.

Lee stated at the Digital TV Technology centre in Seoul: "3D TVs are the next big step for (LG) - we will try with one or two markets in 2009... Over the next few years we will see lots more 3D"

You've got that right Choon. Can't wait to get a 3D set up at home myself - the question is, what set up is best? When the time is right I will run down all the choices we will be able to make for 3D Home Theater. Stay tuned.

Source: T3

Quick Post: Panasonic Submits Proposal For 3D Standard On Blu-ray Disc

Jim here. It's happening very fast - Panasonic is jumping ahead of the crowd and moving for 3DHD standardization. Here is a quote from EngadgetHD:

"Just days after hearing that the HDMI specification could be updated to better handle stereoscopic 3D content, along comes word that Panasonic has submitted a proposal to the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) for an official BD standard to store 3D imagery formed of "left / right-eye two-channel Full HD images." Panny reportedly made the move early in order avoid a format war, but really, it's just looking to cash in on royalties for the next decade five years or less. It's no secret that movie studios are dead set on moving forward with 3D production -- might as well be ready on the other end, right?"

Looks like a powerplay, but of course it was coming. Let's see what pans out - there are a lot of players in the market! The sooner we get 3DHD into our homes the better.

Source: EngadgetHD