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.

NHL To Broadcast Hockey Games In 3D! First Up: Toronto vs. Montreal, Dec 11

Well this is very interesting news for all you hockey fans out there! The CBC has announced that it will be showing some 3D hockey games this season and the first slated game is the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting the Montreal Canadiens on December 11. You will need a 3D TV and glasses which will allow you to watch the stunning 3D detail.

No one beats the hockey coverage on CBC. It's not even close. So warm up those satellite dishes.

Panasonic is stepping up by sponsoring the events. I have seen hockey clips in 3D on Panasonic's S3DHD TVs at The 3D Experience and it is stunning. This is a no-brainer really - all sports should continue to expand their 3D broadcasts for that "It's just like I was there" immersion factor.
The second 3D game scheduled is the Heritage Classic when the Calgary Flames host the Montreal Canadiens in an outdoor game at McMahon Stadium on February 20, 2011.

From the CBC: "We are very pleased to partner with Panasonic on this unique and ground-breaking initiative," Scott Moore, executive director for CBC Sports, said in a statement. "Together, we will be bringing an experience to Canadian hockey fans that has never been done before. This is a Canadian first and a very exciting time for television and hockey in Canada."

"Panasonic is at the forefront of 3D innovation, leading the charge on developing technology for both industry professionals and everyday Canadians," said Ian Kilvert, general manager, corporate brand management for Panasonic Canada Inc. "With our expertise and cutting-edge products, it makes sense to partner with the CBC to help bring the first-ever 3D hockey viewing experience into Canadian living rooms."

Gotta love it! That completes the sweep of major sporting leagues in North America into the fold with the NHL, NBA, MLB, NFL, NCAA, PGA and NASCAR all having presented events in 3D. Even the World Cup has been shown in three dimensions. Now to even out the quality to the highest standards and increase the number of games shown. Live 3D sports is upon us!!

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! :-)

BSkyB Orders A Dedicated S3D Broadcast Truck From Telegenic

Jim here. In the first of many such deals for the broadcast industry (this one is in the UK), BSkyB has ordered a truck specifically designed for stereoscopic 3D from Telegenic.

Further, the S3D camera rigs are potentially being bought from 3ality Digital of Burbank, CA.

From Broadcastnow.co.uk: The 3D part of the truck build will centre on providing gallery space for stereographers and the addition of tools for handling and synchronising two full-resolution signals at the same time.

“We will use one stereographer per camera system,” explained Lenz. “These operators set the 3D convergence point using a specially set up screen and control 3ality’s Stereo Image Processor system that drives the 3D cameras. The director cuts the cameras watching on a 3D screen”.

Lenz said that as 90% of the truck will feature regular HD capable components, it will cost only “marginally more” to build than a standard HD truck. Included will be a Calec audio desk, two Sony SRW-5800 VTRs, up to four EVS replay servers and a graphics system from Vizrt.

The 3ality 3D camera rigs are being trialled this week at the ATP World Tour Finals tennis event at the O2 Arena in London.

Awesome! Capital investment in broadcast S3D is starting folks :-)

Quick Post: SMPTE Wants 1080p/60fps per-eye 3DTV Standard Within a Year

UPDATE: 4/16/09 - Michael here.  After reading the full SMPTE task force report, it is clear that 24p 3D content is still a possibility, as the image file is required to contain video resolutions "up to and including 1920x1080 and native frame rates up to and including 60p per eye view."  It seems from the wording that since 24p is a native frame rate, the image file will be required to contain it if the source material is 24p.  Whether we will actually able to see 24p 3D content displayed without pulldown will be determined by the technology of the display.  Hopefully CEA will work on solutions for this.

UPDATE: 4/15/09 - Michael here.  I, as well as MarketSaw readers, have been thinking/worrying about how 24p 3D content will be displayed using this standard. Hopefully, there will be a solution such that no pulldown or other types of messing with the original frames is required.  Perhaps variable frame rate TVs that can display at both 120 and 96 hz?  I'll let you know as soon as I find out how the players involved will be handling 24p content.

Michael here.  I agree with Jim (see article below) that lousy 3DTV will do nothing but slow the widespread adoption of 3D by the consumer electronics industry, primarily by misleading consumers with a subpar product.

Those of us wishing for the highest possible quality in 3DTV, however, may have cause to celebrate, as SMPTE (a major player in creating the DCI standard for Digital Cinema) announced on Monday that they hope to finish a 3DTV standard within a year.  And, wisely, they have decided that this standard should be 1080p at 60 frames per second, per eye.  This is equivalent to what Panasonic has been demonstrating with its uber-impressive 103 inch 3D plasma.

The SMPTE standard will rigorously define the requirement for a "3D Home Master", which studios or game publishers would deliver as source material for Blu-ray disks, broadcasts and internet downloads.

The best news about this is that the 3D images will be delivered to various mediums without sacrificing resolution or frame rate.  And a year from now seems like the perfect time to debut the new standard with the Avatar Blu-ray!

source: EETimes

CES 2009: "How Will We See 3D TV?" Panel Podcast

Hi - Michael here.  Listen to the podcast below for the best panel session on 3D I've heard yet.  This session focused primarily on 3D at home technologies, and the panelists go into some fascinating detail regarding the various technologies that are in the running, as well as what will need to happen for a standard to be reached.  The questions directed to the panel from both the moderator and audience resulted in some great discussion.

This is really a must-listen for those who want to be on the cutting edge of what is happening to bring 3D into the living room.

Listen to the podcast below:

Moderator: 

Eric Taub, Technology Contributing Writer, The New York Times

Panelists: 

Doug Darrow, Brand Marketing Manager, DLP Products, Texas Instruments

Nicholas Routhier, President and CEO, SENSIO Technologies

David Naranjo, Director, Product Development, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Inc.

Chris Chinnock, Co-Founder, 3D@Home Consortium and President, Insight Media

Neil Wittering, International Strategic Business Manager, projectiondesign

London 2012 Olympics Likely To Be Shown in 3D!

Hi - Michael here with some good news--it looks like we will be watching the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in 3D!

"There is a very good chance you'll see the London Olympics in 3D", said Brian Lenz, head of product design and innovation at Sky during a showing of 3D footage at their head office in West London.

He later confirmed that Sky will be "filming events in 3D."

I recently saw some 3D footage of the Beijing Olympics on that eye-popping 103 inch 3D Panasonic Plasma--I felt like I was there amongst the opening ceremony performers in the middle of the Bird's Nest.  Seeing the 3D of the Olympic events themselves was a very visceral experience.  You really get an amazing sense of the power and agility of these athletes when you watch them in 3D.

It should be perfect timing too, as I expect 3DTVs to be high quality and affordable by the time Summer 2012 arrives.

source: Pocket-lint