[Philip Lelyveld comment: this is a comprehensive, lengthy update.]
[3D Focus]
2011 has been a year of head scratching and worrying times for the 3D entertainment industry. Sales of 3D TV sets have being sluggish; the popularity of 3D movies has declined and there have been surprises all round that 3D gaming has not proven to be as popular as expected. However, there have been a series of positive headlines recently suggesting the industry can end 2011 with an optimistic outlook for 2012.
Despite endless reports in the mainstream media claiming 3D cinema is over, highlighting the decline in 3D box office sales, the last few months has seen a reverse in the downturn. 2D to 3D conversion has dramatically improved and big name directors are starting to leverage 3D film-making in ever increasingly powerful ways. Although the ratio between 2D and 3D ticket sales has indeed narrowed since the post Avatar honeymoon, 3D versions of movies are still performing better than their 2D equivalents, surprising when considering the spat of poor conversions released to an ever increasingly wary public.
In 2010, 25 3D films were released. By the end of this year 39 3D films will have been released. …
So does 3D in the home have an equally bright future? Well there has been recent positive 3D news here too. Earlier in the year, consultancy firm Futuresource published a report suggesting that half of UK homes will own a 3D TV set by 2015.. However, the Futuresource also acknowledged that 3D TVs will be purchased mainly by default rather than as part of a conscious decision to ‘go 3D’.
In the same report, the consultancy states that as of now, there are approximately 55 3D channels and demo channels and at least another 35 VoD (Video on demand) services offering 3D movie content. Futuresource Consulting’s Market Analyst, Fiona Hoy, expects that to rise by 15-20 channels and/or 3D VoD service. China’s State Administration of Radio, Film & Television had previously called for 10 3D channels to be launched in the People’s Republic by 2015.
Thanks to oversupply, prices for 3D TV sets have reached an all-time low with one able to pick up a 3D TV for less than £500.
3D technology has improved too. Traditionally expensive, passive 3D TV sets have plummeted in price, thanks in part to film-patterned retarder technology introduced to the market by LG. …
3D content may still be thin on the ground but things are improving fast. 3D lifestyle channel HIGH TV 3D has expanded rapidly since its launch in April this year when it signed a 4 million Euro with Korea Telecom along with its sister channel FASHION ONE. In October, HIGH TV 3D launched in Norway on the CANAL DIGITAL platform and before that, HIGH TV 3D launched on cable television operator UPC in Romania. It recently also launched in Denmark.
In the UK, Sky 3D is firmly committed to the format, pushing more money into original 3D programming. …
Despite persistent negative headlines about disappointing sales figures for the Nintendo 3DS (perhaps due to unrealistic sales forecasts), games industry trade website MVC yesterday reported that the glasses free 3D console is almost sold out in the UK.
With Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 both in the UK top ten, it seems that 3DS is proving very popular contrary to popular belief. It is also selling well in Japan although research has found that owners rarely use the 3D functionality after the first few weeks. …
Whether 3D phones will be popular is anybody’s guess. This year saw the launch of the LG Optimus 3D which has not been the success expected by the Korean giant although Jon Peddie Research says 80 percent of smartphones will boast not just 3D screens, but 3D cameras in the next four years. Consumer 3D capture devices have got cheaper and cheaper. A range of 3D consumer camcorders have become available recently starting from as little as $100! …
The 3D entertainment industry still has a high mountain to climb before the technology is embraced by the mainstream but at least the horizon is looking brighter than it did just a few months ago!
See the full story here: http://www.3dfocus.co.uk/3d-news-2/3d-entertainment-industry-to-end-2011-on-high/6385