Three's Company: ESPN Planning To Launch 3D Network In June

ESPN 3D Plans To Air At Least 85 Live Events In First Year

ESPN today announced plans to launch ESPN 3D, the industry's first three-dimension TV network, on June 11 with the Mexico-South Africa FIFA World Cup opener. ESPN 3D will showcase a minimum of 85 live sporting events during its first year, including coverage of next summer's World Cup, Summer X Games, college basketball and college football. The 3D slate for next season will include the BCS National Championship game on January 10, 2011 (ESPN). USA TODAY's Edward Baig reports ESPN is "committing to the 3D network through June 2011." There will be "no reruns initially, so the network will be dark when there's no 3D event." NBA games also will be made available to viewers with 3D-capable TVs. Viewers must wear special 3D glasses and "may need a new set-top box to watch 3D," and it also remains unclear if fans will "have to pay a premium" for the service. ESPN said that it "expects deals with distributors will be in place prior to launch." ESPN Exec VP/Technology Chuck Pagano: "We don't have all the answers. We asked the same questions back in the HD days. Is this going to be better? Is this going to be worse?" (USA TODAY, 1/5). Meanwhile, Discovery, Sony and IMAX today announced plans to partner on a joint venture to develop the first 24/7 dedicated 3D network. The channel is slated to launch in the U.S. in '11 (Discovery).

ELECTRIC SLIDE: In L.A., Chmielewski & Pham report "four technology trends" will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week that "promise to shape how people get their entertainment." Manufacturers this year will "seek to capitalize on Hollywood's current mania for 3-D films" by unveiling 3D-capable televisions. TVs that "connect to the Internet" is another trend, and as "more consumers expect to be entertained wherever they happen to be, TV broadcasters are hanging their hopes on a third technology at CES -- mobile digital TV." Manufacturers also will show a "gaggle of portable gadgets to deliver all manner of entertainment, including books, videos and music" (L.A. TIMES, 1/5).