Next3D & Turner Broadcasting Expand Alliance to Include S3D Production & Delivery of Live Events

Very excited to hear about this news! I have been working with Next3D for a while now and once I saw this I had to pass it on to you.

Here's the official press release (emphasis is mine):

ATLANTA, (April 5, 2011) — Next3D and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.) have expanded their collaborative alliance to include efforts to deploy 3D technology for the real-time production and streaming delivery of Live events to the emerging home 3D audience. The relationship leverages Next3D’s proprietary stereoscopic encoding technology and content delivery service to implement industry leading tools and techniques for end-to-end stereoscopic content acquisition and delivery.

“Our approach is to partner with advantaged technology companies, such as Next3D, to deliver high-quality 3D content over existing digital infrastructure,” said Jim McCaffrey, Executive Vice President, Operations & Strategy Chief Strategy Officer Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. “Next3D has demonstrated to us that its compression technology addresses some of the major challenges to delivering 3D content.”

“Next3D technology preserves and enhances image quality, producing a theater-like experience, the way 3D in the home should be,” said Steve Heyer, Chairman of Next3D. “Partnering with Turner to deliver Live events in vibrant High-Definition 3D is an important vote of confidence for us.”

Unlike current 3DTV broadcasting methods, which squeeze the 3D image into a single 2D image frame, Next3D’s patent-pending technology enables stereoscopic 3D video encoding and delivery in full high-definition 1080p. Reducing the amount of data to deliver a high definition 3D image by up to 75%, Next3D encoding reduces the bandwidth needed for home-delivery without sacrificing image quality. The ground-breaking technology also retains and enhances image details, critical to pristine 3D HD.

Next3D will demonstrate its advances in 3D technology at NAB 2011 in Las Vegas. To schedule a meeting or request an interview with company executives, visit next3d.com or contact Pedro Chen (pedrochen@maxborgesagency.com).

About TBS, Inc.
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 65 years of combined experience in media, content production, and stereoscopic delivery and display. With expertise and intellectual property spanning back to the first digital stereoscopic video distribution technology in the mid 1990s, Next3D has one of the most comprehensive and mature technology platforms in the stereoscopic industry. Next3D's proprietary, patent-pending video compression technology delivers a crisp, clear, and comfortable 3D experience over cable, satellite or broadband.

For more information about Next3D, please visit http://next3d.com. For a downloadable PDF detailing Next3D’s quality advantage, visit here.

More when I get it!

Next3D is a sponsor of MarketSaw.

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!!

NBA All Star Game Weekend Goes For The 3! Live 3D Broadcast to 80 Theaters...

**SAME DAY UPDATE: Readers were asking about the exact theater locations involved so I have appended the list - check it out at the end of the post!

Jim here. This is a slam dunk guys - seeing the top specialists in the game during the NBA All Star Game Skills Challenges live in 3D! The events include:

- Haeir Shooting Stars – 2008 champion Team San Antonio: David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Becky Hammon
- Playstation Skills Challenge – 2008 champion Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams
Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout – 2008 champion Toronto Raptors forward Jason Kapono
- Sprite Slam Dunk – 2008 champion Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard

Basketball is one of the few sports where a skills challenge can be as exciting as the actual all star game itself - remember Jordan swooping down from the foul line? Or Spud Webb taking an elevator to the rim? Classic memories and it will only get better in Live 3D on the big screen. Count. Me. In.

This isn't the first time the NBA has been involved with 3D - they used 3DHD for the 2007 All Star Game and also for Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Further my friend Mark Cuban delivered the world's first live 3DHD event to a movie theater for 500 fans.

The Saturday night events will be broadcast live in 3DHD to 80 theaters on 160 digital screens using Carmike Cinemas, Celebration Cinemas, Cinema West, Emagine, Galaxy Theatres, Marquee Cinemas, MJR, NCG, Rave Motion Pictures, Showcase and UltraStar Cinema locations, and will serve fans in 35 states across the country.

The skills challenges are being brought to you through the NBA and the technology of Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. and Turner Sports/TNT.

One interesting side note: CORALINE opens in wide release on February 6th in 3D theaters. If the movie opens as large as some predict, the theaters may have reservations about opening a Saturday night slot up. Hey, for one night - it's worth it to see a live 3D sporting event!

THEATER LOCATIONS:

DMA	CIRCUIT	THEATER
Atlanta, GA	Carmike	Carmike Conyers Crossroads 16
Austin, TX	Galaxy Theatres	Galaxy Highland 10
Baton Rouge	Rave	Rave Mall of Louisiana 15
Billings	Carmike	Carmike Wynnsong 10-Billings
Birmingham, AL	Rave	RMP Patton Creek 15
Buffalo	Carmike	Carmike 8-Olean
Champaign-Springfield	Carmike	Beverly Center 18
Charleston, SC	Carmike	James Island 8
Charleston-Huntington	Marquee Cinemas	Marquee Southridge 12
Charlotte, NC	Carmike	Carmike 14
Charlottesville	Carmike	Carmike 6-Charlottesville
Chattanooga	Rave	East Ridge 18
Chicago, IL	Carmike	Carmike Market Square 10
Cincinnati, OH	Rave	RMP West Chester 18
Cleveland / Akron	Atlas	Atlas Cinemas Great Lakes Stadium 16
Colorado Springs	Carmike	Chapel Hills 15
Columbus, GA	Carmike	Carmike 15
Columbus, OH	Rave	RMP Polaris 18
Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX	Rave	RMP Ridgmar 13
Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX	Rave	RMP North East Mall 18
Denver, CO	Carmike	Carmike 10
Des Moines-Ames	Carmike	Carmike Wynnsong 16-Johnston
Detroit	MJR	MJR Sterling Heights Marketplace 20
Detroit	MJR	MJR Brighton Town Square 20
Detroit, MI	Emagine	Emagine Entertainment Novi
Detroit, MI	MJR	Southgate 20
El Paso	Carmike	Carmike 16-El Paso
Evansville, IN	Showplace	East 18 Evansville
Fresno- Visalia	Galaxy Theatres	Galaxy 10-Tulare
Grand Rapids et al, MI	Celebration Cinemas	Celebration! Cinemas Grand Rapids - North
Greensboro-H. Point-W. Salem	Carmike	Carmike Wynnsong 12-Winston-Salem
Greenville-N. Bern-Washngtn	Carmike	Carmike 16-Jacksonville
Greenvll-Spart-Ashevll-And	Carmike	Carmike 10-Asheville
Harligen-Brownsville-McAllen	Carmike	Carmike 20
Houston, TX	Rave	RMP Yorktown 15
Hunstville	Rave	Valley Bend 18
Indianapolis, IN	Rave	RMP Metropolis 18
Jacksonville, Brunswick	Carmike	Carmike Amelia Island 7
Kansas City	Carmike	Carmike University 8-Warrensburg
Knoxville	Carmike	Carmike Wynnsong 16-Knoxville
Lansing	NCG	NCG Lansing Eastwood
Las Vegas	Galaxy Theatres	Galaxy Cannery 16
Las Vegas	Rave	Rave Town Square 18
Little Rock-Pine Bluff	Rave	Rave Colonel Glenn 18
Los Angeles	UltraStar	UltraStar Apple Valley 14
Memphis	Carmike	Carmike 9-Dyersburg
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN	Carmike	Carmike Oakdale 20
Missoula	Carmike	Carmike 10-Missoula
Mobile-Pensacola	Carmike	Wynnsong 16
Mobile-Pensacola	Rave	Rave Bayou 15
Montgomery	Rave	Rave Festival Plaza 16
Nashville, TN	Carmike	Thoroughbred 20
Nashville, TN	NCG	Gallatin Cinemas
New York, NY	AccessIT	Pavillion Digital Showcase Theatre
New York, NY	Marquee Cinemas	Orchard Cinema 10
Oklahoma City	Carmike	Carmike 10-Stillwater
Orlando et al, FL	Rave	RMP Avenue 16
Peoria-Bloomington	Rave	Grand Prairie 18
Philadelphia, PA	Rave	RMP Promenade 16
Phoenix	UltraStar	UltraStar Surprise Pointe 14
Pittsburgh	Carmike	Carmike 10-Pittsburgh
Raleigh-Durham	Carmike	Carmike Market Fair 15
Raleigh-Durham	Marquee Cinemas	Marquee Wakefield 12
Reno	Galaxy Theatres	Galaxy Fandango 10
Roanoke-Lynchburg	Carmike	Carmike 10
Sacramnto-Stktn-Modesto	Galaxy Theatres	Galaxy 12-Riverbank
Salt Lake City	Carmike	Carmike Wynnsong 12-Provo
San Diego	UltraStar	Del Mar Highlands 8
San Diego	UltraStar	Mission Valley 7 (San Diego, CA)
San Francisco et al, CA	Cinema West	Boulevard Cinemas 12
San Francisco-Oak-San Jose	Cinema West	Cinema West 13-Livermore
San Francisco-Oak-San Jose	Cinema West	Cinema West Contra Costa 8
Savannah	Carmike	Carmike Wynnsong 11-Savannah
Seattle-Tacoma	Galaxy Theatres	Galaxy Uptown 10
Tampa-St. Pete et al, FL	Carmike	Carmike Royal Palm 20
Topeka, KS	Carmike	Seth Childs 12
Tri Cities, TN-VA	Carmike	Johnson City 14
Tyler-Longview (Lfkn&Ncgd)	Carmike	Carmike 14-Tyler
Utica	Marquee Cinemas	Marquee Orchard 14-New Hartford
Washington, DC	Marquee Cinemas	Marquee Southpoint 9
West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce	Rave	Rave Port St. Lucie 14

"Star Wars: The Clone Wars" in 3D Theaters August 15th

Well hello there! Another round of Star Wars brought to you by the man himself, George Lucas. On Friday, August 15th Warner Bros will release "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" to 3D theaters everywhere. It is an animation and the storyline is situated between Star Wars Episode II and III. After its theatrical run, the series continues on television in 30 minute episodes on Turner Broadcasting. Lucas is Executive Producer for the project.

"I felt there were a lot more Star Wars stories left to tell," said George Lucas, executive producer of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. "I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the art of animation forward."

"Nothing like this has ever been produced for television," said Stuart Snyder, President/COO Turner Animation,Young Adults & Kids Media. "For 30 years, Star Wars has shown that it appeals to a huge breadth of fans. The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network will be appointment television for everyone in the family. We're thrilled to be working with Lucasfilm again and very excited to be playing a role in bringing this remarkable adventure to viewers."With a new story each week, Star Wars: The Clone Wars continues the tradition of thrilling stories, astonishing visuals and extraordinary music that have always been the hallmarks of the Star Wars Saga."

30 episodes have already been completed and work continues on more! Exclusive web-only video on the development of the series can be found here.

Check out the trailer here. The official website is www.starwars.com.