Many people are getting used to high-definition television and the awesome way sports look on the screen — be it plasma or LCD. But things are getting ramped up to take viewers to the next level. A number of networks and production companies are betting fans will want to sit on their couch and watch sports in 3-D.
Televisions with 3-D capability are new and still pricy but ESPN, Comcast and DirecTV all are working on expanding the HD market. On July 13, the MLB All-Star Game will be broadcast in 3-D.
Erick Shanks, executive vice president of entertainment for DirecTV told me his company is committed to developing 3-D broadcasts and staying ahead of the curve.
Shanks on the near future of 3-D » Like interactive TV and HD, 3-D has the potential to completely transform the way we watch sports. Beginning this June, DirecTV HD customers will receive a free software upgrade enabling them to have access to dedicated 3-D channels on DirecTV, which will include N3D (Nano3D) — in cooperation with Panasonic — ESPN 3D, as well as 3D DirecTV Cinema channel and a 3D DirecTV On Demand channel. DirecTV HD customers will need a 3-D television set and 3-D glasses to view 3-D programming on DirecTV.
Shanks on what people should expect when they watch 3-D TV » Well, let me say that if you are expecting to see a ball fly off the basketball court and into your living room at home making you dive out of the way, then you have the wrong idea of how the technology works. What watching 3-D does is gives the viewer an immersive feel — meaning that it will be like watching a baseball game from a box seat, or a basketball game from courtside. It really gives people the ultimate home entertainment experience and sports fans want to be as close to the game as possible and we feel that what we produce at DirecTV Sports will do just that for our subscribers.
Shanks on doing the first ever baseball game in 3-D » We are happy to be working with the YES Network to telecast the Yankees-Mariners games July 10th and 11th. This is a good opportunity to make sure that when the All-Star Game is broadcast in 3-D there is at least some experience and to make the game absolutely perfect.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
