3D Television
Sky is Launching a New 3D TV Channel in 2010, Will it Catch on?
Upgrading to keep pace with technological advancements seems to be a non-stop process these days, first it was the upgrade from cassette to CD, then CD to mp3. Then the conversion from VHS to DVD became even more painful, but an ultimately necessary process. But no sooner had VHS become antiquated then along came Blu-Ray to make our lives even more complicated. Television is also going through the same technological metamorphoses with the current digital switchover and the progression to HD. But if you thought it was stopping there then you’re mistaken. Just as nearly every home has fitted themselves with the latest flat-screen digital televisions the next experiment is underway – 3D Television.
Sky Television has announced that it will be broadcasting the first UK 3D Television station in 2010. An exact date is yet to be arranged due to the lack of any 3D televisions being available in the UK to this date (that’s another story).
But that didn’t stop Sky showcasing their ideas at the recent International Television Festival in Edinburgh. The 3D televisions on display appear no different to an average digital flat screen from any manufacturer, but the technology behind it, and that required to film, transmit and pick up 3D images is far from simple.
How will New 3D Television Work?
Even with the switchover to digital and HD, television has only ever been able to deliver a single 2D image. Significant developments in television camera technology have now enabled 3D images to be captured. This involves two separate images being filmed simultaneously, and to do this, two separate camera lenses on special rigging need to be perfectly aligned next to each other.
Sky’s strategy was to develop HD cameras to incorporate two lenses, both 6 centimetres apart to replicate the similar distance between a pair of eyes. Once the image is captured an intricate post-production procedure takes place to ensure that the two images match exactly in time, colour, focus and depth. The depth can then be altered to either enhance or reduce the effect of the 3D image.
HD to 3D - A Natural Progression
As the UK’s only current provider of HD television, Sky has the ideal platform to deliver 3D into the home as HD set-top boxes with significant bandwidth are able to receive 3D images. Therefore, the temptation for all Sky customers to upgrade to the HD format is likely to increase. Indeed, the crux of their argument for the introduction of 3D is based primarily on the growth in popularity of HD.
As a recent Sky press release stated, the number of customers choosing HD has more than doubled in the last year alone and stands at around 1.313 million in total. There’s only one small problem – the lack of 3D TV’s. Without a single television available it’s difficult to judge the cost, but there’s already significant competition in the market with Phillips, Panasonic, Sony, LD and Mitsubishi already working on their development. However, the initial cost of a 3D set could be as high as £9,000, especially when taking into consideration how expensive some early High Definition sets cost, although the price will drop considerably with increased competition in the market.
Is 3D all it’s Cracked up to be?
Getting people to make the leap to 3D will be hardest part. With only a single channel so far planned for broadcast, it’s difficult to say whether audiences will be easily won over or not, this is very much still an experiment for Sky. The 3-D experience itself is quite interesting; in Edinburgh a selection of sport and entertainment were used to wow delegates and it's certainly in the Sport and movie market where the battle will be won or lost with the viewer.
The channel is mooted to be multi-content with a wide selection of programming and Sky are growing their catalogue of 3D programmes as we speak. Watching the selection of football and boxing that Sky has on offer is quite compelling, the depth to the field of play is unique and will enhance appreciation of a defence splitting pass, a crunching tackle or even exacerbate our rage at an offside decision. When the camera whips around to the crowd it does genuinely feel as though the viewer is there in the stadium, and when the boxing reaches its climax on the ropes, Sky 3D provides a brilliant ringside view of the action.
The Negatives
There’s one big drawback however, the ridiculous polarising glasses that need to be worn are a big hindrance to the growth of 3D. Although a solution is in preparation - in the form of TV screens that do not require glasses - there are still problems, as some test audiences experienced disorientation and sickness during screenings. And then there’s the issue of the ‘sweet spot’. To view a 3D image without glasses involves sitting in front of a specially designed TV at a given angle to maximise the 3D image, something that doesn’t lend itself kindly to family viewing. So it seems that for the time being at least, we’re stuck with the Roy Orbison glasses.
Sky is also muted as to whether the content of their new 3D channel will require any additional subscription, so in this case, no news could well be bad news. However, the pay-tv giant has a natural ally in the gaming industry. Sony recently announced that its own 3D Bravia televisions will be fully compatible with Playstation 3 consoles and a range of 3D games are currently undergoing internal development. Sony boss Howard Stringer recently announced in a Telegraph interview that 3D technology would be offered across a range of its products.
But for 3D Television to really take off, significant price drops, developments in comfort and live 3D television (still a problem yet to be conquered) all have to be taken into consideration. Initially it seems, 3D will very much be a luxury for the rich and inquisitive technophiles, rather than an easily accessible household commodity.
3D Television
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