It’s always the same when an electronics firm come up with a new format, whether it’s video, CDs, DVD, Blu-rays or anything else. It’s all very well having sparkly new technology, but it’s rather pointless unless you have content to play on it.
Over the past few months electronics manufacturers have been getting very excited over 3D televisions, with numerous different systems lining up that should bring the three-dimensional experience into the home (this is proper cinema-style 3D, rather than having to rely of old-style red/green glasses). The current sticking point is that other than a few programmes on Japanese TV, there’s no content to take advantage of these flashy new 3D televisions.
Well, now Sony has stepped forward to try and ensure people have at least some 3D TV to watch, in the US at least. They’ve announced that they’re teaming with IMAX and Discovery to launch the world’s first 24/7, all-3D TV station on cable. At the moment the channel doesn’t have a name, although the press release announcing the venture promises that, “The new 3D network will feature high-quality premium content from genres that are most appealing in 3D, 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.”
At the moment 3D is the big white hope of the TV industry, with all sorts of plans in the works, including Sky in the UK testing out filming live sports in 3D. There was also the recent announcement that the specs for 3D Blu-rays have been finalised. However at the moment the problem is still that while some high-end TVs are already 3D-capable, there’s precious little content that can take advantage of that, but at least there now seems to be some momentum behind giving owners of these TVs something to watch, as electronics manufacturers are desperately hoping that 3D TV will catch on.