Get Ready for the SEC in 3D
by Year2 on Jan 5, 2010 4:11 PM EST
in General
Email
Print
ESPN has announced that it will begin to show sporting events in 3D in 2010. No, this is not a parody post. It's coming, and it will be it's own thing along side all of ESPN's other television properties. Already announced for the 3D treatment is the 2011 National Title Game, but unspecified college basketball and football games (which undoubtedly will include those involving SEC schools) will get it too.
I get why ESPN is doing this. One of the great demands on businesses is always to grow and expand. It's an, "if you're not growing, you're dying" kind of mind set. Having covered print, radio, TV, HDTV, and mobile already, there's only one of two obvious directions to go in, and no one has telepresence at home yet.
A big issue for this service is that just about no one has a 3D television at home either. The press release mentions having shown a USC-Ohio State game in 3D movie theaters already using this technology as a part of a two year testing period. That idea has some merit I think, but showing anything but movies at movie theaters has been a very niche thing so far.
It's not unheard of for ESPN to do something like this. It launched its ESPNHD service when only a small number of Americans had HDTVs and an even smaller amount had HD television service. It was savvy at the time, because you knew HD was the direction things were going in. It's not quite so cut-and-dried with 3D.
My wife and I went to see Avatar last month on a 3D IMAX screen. I thought it was interesting but ultimately didn't add a whole lot. My wife had a terrible time with it though, as it didn't quite work for her and gave her a bad headache. I know she's not alone; every incarnation of 3D technology so far doesn't work right with everyone's eyes. For example, even though I handled that Avatar screening just fine, every 3D movie at every Orlando theme park is blurry and slightly off for me.
I'm skeptical about this venture, even as 3D TV sets are getting top billing at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. HD was a natural progression, but the terrible sales and adoption rates of Blu-ray show that it's not conquering everything quite yet. HD also doesn't require special glasses as 3D does, and it works fine with everyone's sight.
I'm not ready to call this the second coming of Mobile ESPN just yet, but don't call your broker and load up on Disney stock based on this news. Any of you excited about this development?
10 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I also saw Avatar in 3D, and though I felt the visual effects were outstanding, I didn’t feel like it was worth the extra bucks. A regular DLP projector would’ve done just as well in my opinion.
The only parts that even appeared 3D were some of the foreground and background trees/animals/etc., not the characters.
Maybe as a treat for larger cities and big games this would be worthwhile as an addition to normal HD, say as in a local IMAX or movie theater, but regularly broadcasted or as yet another ESPN channel? No.
Yeah
The 3D in Avatar seemed at most 5 feet deep and didn’t cover that much. It wasn’t worth the extra $3.
I also can’t see home 3D taking off that much. You have to have a set of glasses for each person to make it work. If you were to visit a friend’s house to watch something in 3D, you have to bring your own most likely (unless that friend blew a ton of money to amass a large set of them). It also probably quits working quite right once most folks get a couple of beers in them. Can they solve the problem of fitting 3D glasses over normal eyeglasses without making the wearer look like a doofus? There’s so many problems to this.
Team Speed Kills
SBNation's SEC Blog
what if you don't wear glasses
or want to. or what if you don’t even like 3d.
extra 3 bucks? it cost another 9 in NY
by knowshon loves legos on Jan 5, 2010 4:45 PM EST up reply actions
HOW DARE YOU!!!
Your Florida allegiance notwithstanding, you’ve been great Year2. But to toss in the Muppet Vision show at Disney World in Orlando along with the other 3D shows is an outrage.
:)
Sorry for the extreme response. I am just kidding (an I do mean in the “j/k” sense of the words: just kidding).
I was just thinking how I was going to make a comment about how much I love the Muppet Show and the 3D show at Disney World before I read the paragraph ending with your (very minor) complaint with those movies.
Besides that, I agree with your take on the future of 3D entirely.
Don't get me wrong
Muppets 4D is a masterpiece. I love that show, and I see it every time I go to MGM. That doesn’t change the fact that everyone’s a bit blurry and sometimes has two outlines.
Team Speed Kills
SBNation's SEC Blog
A masterpiece, indeed.
It’s been a LONG time since I’ve seen it. I can’t even remember how old I was. Maybe 13 or 14. I’ll take your word for it. I have two T-shirts and a refrigerator magnet from the merchandise shop.
The Muppet Show was my favorite childhood TV show. I have all of the DVD sets (that have been released) so that I can raise my children on them. None of this Spongebob nonsense.
I could spend all day discussing the Muppets with you, but that wasn’t the point of the original post. On Marketplace (NPR) this evening, they were discussing the new technology, specifically as it pertained to ESPN’s release today. They say the sets will cost $10,000. Not that much different than what HDTV’s cost when they were first released. I’m not sure what the consensus on HD was when it was first announced, so it may not be as bad as you think. Of course, that doesn’t account for the huge differences in how HD was received by the masses compared to what this may bring.
On iTunes
Look up the podcast “Stuff You Should Know” and download the “How Muppets Work” episode. It’s fantastic.
Team Speed Kills
SBNation's SEC Blog
My problem with it is that 3D doesn't work when it's not integrated into the design
This summer, I saw two movies in 3D with my six-year-old son: “Monsters v. Aliens” and the “Ice Age” sequel. The former was designed with 3D in mind; the first two scenes feature an exploding planet coming off of the screen at you and a guy playing paddle ball where the ball looks like it’s going to hit you in the face. It was way cool.
For “Ice Age,” they just made an animated movie and rather obviously decided to tack on the 3D effects at the last minute. The 3D added nothing.
Adding 3D to a live event will be pretty hit-or-miss, unless they plan to locate cameras at ground level at action “hot spots” (e.g., the pylon of the end zone). While a field goal coming out of the screen at you would be neat, a lot of standard football would be meaningless in 3D.
On the whole, though, I’m pro. Then again, I just finished watching a college football game on Fox, which always makes me a lot more tolerant of ESPN’s excesses, which pale by comparison.
Go 'Dawgs!
I was listening to NPR today
I guess they are coming out with 3D TV’s soon.
"I meant to misspell that word, just observing who would correct me."
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
