3D TV channel from Sony, Discovery and IMAX

ESPN, Discovery, Sony and IMAX brings 3D to your homes

With 3D television becoming the new buzzword, TV giants are all set to bring this consumer technology in to your living rooms. ESPN, Discovery, Sony and IMAX have announced plans for the launch of a US television network for 3D TV broadcasting by this year.

Both ESPN and Discovery have announced 3D TV Networks, while ESPN has promised 85 live sporting events. Discovery will partner with Sony and IMAX for the proposed 24/7 channel on their 3D TV Networks.

The current interest in 3D TV and movies have much to thank James Cameron’s Avatar for. It was Avatar 3D which made the tech cool again – and in the on-going CES 2010, several companies have announced 3D projectors and 3D televisions. Read related story: Avatar 3D DVD to contain deleted sex scene.

3D television was not so successful earlier owing to the special glasses that had to worn to watch a show. But with current 3D television technology that does not necessarily need 3D glasses and 24/7 networks, many customers might adopt 3D TV.

ESPN 3D, touted as the first 3D TV Network in the industry, will begin in June. ESPN, Walt Disney company’s sports unit, will set a trend in the adoption of 3D sets in households, said Sean Bratches, ESPN’s executive vice president. ESPN also plans to broadcast the World cup soccer match between South Africa and Mexico on June 11. The 24 other world cup matches, Summer X Games extreme sports. College basketball and football, including the BCS National Championship in Arizona are among the games that may get broadcast.

Discovery along with Sony Corp and IMAX Corp will launch its 3D TV Network in US by 2012. Sony will license television rights to current and future 3D films, plus music- and game-related 3D content. Whereas, Discovery will provide 3D rights to its television content while promoting the new channel across its 13 properties. IMAX will provide image-enhancement and 3D technologies.

Meanwhile, RealD and Samsung has also announced a partnership for home 3D TVs.  That was followed by the HDMI licensing organisation announcing the implementation of a 3D spec across HDMI connector and a Blu-ray 3D spec to boot. Sony and LG are pioneers in the 3D TV field already.

This is all in the hope that consumers will get lured to migrate to the 3D experience.