3D Progams

Nine reasons why porn could change the face of the 3D home entertainment

It’s a curious fact that the Adult entertainment industry drives many new technological breakthroughs. The porn-biz was instrumental in VHS’ victory over rival tape format Betamax.
And now it looks like it’s going to play its part in the roll-out of 3D. Digital Playground boss Joone has confirmed that his label will be producing features in 3D.
Indeed he says that going from 2D to 3D is as profound a difference as transitioning from “stereo sound to Dolby 5.1.” While he remains doubtful about any sudden migration to 3D screens, he maintains mass adoption could be just “2 to 3 years away.”

To find out more, 3D Radar quizzed controversial adult industry commentator (and What Satellite & Digital TV magazine contributor) Allan Bryce to get his insight on the potential impact of adult-oriented 3D.  Bryce agrees with Joone, saying that ultimately the format will be “hugely successful… if the adult industry gets involved interest is certain to explode.” he says.
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Finally some 3D content on the way, Sky confirms 3D channel launch then bags HBO

3D Blu-ray may have yet to show signs of life, but 3D TV owners scrabbling for content can breathe easy now that Sky has confirmed its 3D channel will go live on October 1.

The satcaster has announced that the new channel will launch with a mixture of general entertainment, movies and sports. Highlights of its opening schedule include the Ryder Cup from Celtic Manor, which will be broadcast in 3D for three days, and a slew of movies, including Bolt and Monster vs. Aliens. Other titles scheduled for transmission include Alice in Wonderland, Ice Age 3, Coraline, Fly Me To The Moon, Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince and My Bloody Valentine.

Contents deals have been struck with Disney, Fox, Universal, Warner Brothers, Paramount and DreamWorks. Also goggleworthy will be Premier League football.

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In Depth: The A to Z of 3D TV sport: What looks great and what falls flat

Sport is expected to be a major driver of 3D take-up, why else would Sky have invested so much in to its 3D football matches at numerous UK pubs?

Sport events create exactly the kind of buzz that 3D will thrive on. You get to witness all the excitement and tension of an event without having to endure poor weather, extortionate prices and a nightmare journey home.

It’s not exactly the same as being there – we’ll have to wait a few years till holographic 3D arrives for that level of experience – but watching sport in 3D is pretty amazing.

However, the technology is young and TV sport producers are still honing their 3D skills. It’s also already clear that while 3D really works for some sports, others have not fulfilled their potential and fall a little flat – literally and emotionally.

So which sports do we think are made for 3D and which aren’t?

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Sky to show darts in 3D

Sky (www.sky.co.uk), Britain’s largest satellite TV provider, has revealed plans to broadcast the Stan.James.com World Matchplay darts tournament’s semi-finals and final in 3D on 24 and 25 July.

Darts fans in the UK and Ireland will be able to watch the sport in 3D for the first time ever, in over 1,000 pubs and venues with a subscription to Sky’s 3D TV service.

The coverage will feature an additional seven camera rigs, including two cameras above the dartboard which will enhance the image of darts flying through the air in 3D.

Sky Sports commentator Sid Waddell said: “It’s a revolution in darts TV broadcasting.”

The veteran commentator added: “For years I’ve described our coverage as resembling a rock and roll concert on your telly. Now it’s going to resemble a rock and roll concert in your pub – I can’t wait!”

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3D Motion Capture Recreates Yankees Closer

Thanks to advanced motion capture technology, there may be a new way for baseball scouts to study players, the government to track terrorists and marketers to better analyze consumer behaviors.

Motion capture technology analyzes human movements through animated 3-D images. As head of New York University’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences’ Movement Laboratory, Chris Bregler, an associate professor, lives and breathes it every day.
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No 3D TV? Watch the final World Cup matches in 3D movie theaters

Though Hollywood studios and consumer electronics manufacturers are pushing 3D home entertainment as the next big thing, opportunities to catch live events on 3D TVs are still very rare for people who haven’t already taken the plunge and bought a new 3D-capable TV.

And even for those people, it requires a DirecTV, Comcast Xfinity, or AT&T U-Verse subscription with supportive 3D programming, and there have still only been a handful of events broadcast in 3D.

But the World Cup is a serious affair for many, and it presents an opportunity to open eyes to the possibilities of live TV in three dimensions. So in 30 locations across the U.S. and Canada, soccer fans eager to catch the main World Cup matches in 3D will be able to see them in movie theaters on 50-foot high screens.

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Sky Sports to broadcast first cricket match in 3D

Sky Sports has confirmed it will broadcast the UK’s first cricket match in 3D, for England’s first NatWest One Day International match against Bangladesh. Viewers in UK and Ireland will be given the opportunity to see cricket in 3D for the first time on July 8th.

Coverage is being broadcast live on Sky 3D to over 1000 venues in the UK and Ireland. You can log on to www.sky.com/3dpubs to find your nearest location.

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SingTel to trial 3D TV content in the region

SingTel has announced it is the first in the region to enable content providers and television broadcasters to deliver 3D TV content to consumers in Singapore and abroad via high-speed satellite and land-based platforms.

The Singaporean telco will play a vital role in developing a national 3D TV trial by providing the infrastructure and capabilities to allow local broadcasters, such as its own mio TV platform, to play out 3D content.

SingTel’s latest venture is made possible with its multi-million 3D-enabled broadcast playout facility which will allow content producers and broadcasters to address technical issues prior to the island wide commercial roll-out of 3D TV services.

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10 changes to the way sport is shot for 3D TV

It may have missed out on the World Cup but Sky has big plans for showing sport in 3D. The satellite king will be showing live football, rugby and cricket amongst others on its 3D channel this year.

January witnessed the first live broadcasts of Premier League football matches in 3D for punters at pubs across the UK. Recently Sky launched its 3D channel, currently broadcasting a showreel of 3D highlights plus the occasional live event such as the first cricket match to be shown in 3D on 8 July between England and Bangladesh.

For living room viewers the 3D channel (no 217 on the EPG) is currently available free to top tier subscribers. You do, of course, need a new generation 3DTV, but existing Sky+ HD boxes can be upgraded via a software update.

Here’s how Sky has changed the way it shoots sport for 3D viewing.

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