What does this mean for 3D TV at home?
Everyone that stood up to be counted amongst the 3D TV evangelists just took a body blow today, when ESPN announced they were going to discontinue their 3D Channel. Many consumer 3D advocates heralded this channel as the "savior" of the 3D dilemma, bringing "real" 3D to the "masses". "Sports is the key to widespread adoption" was a phrase I heard more than once. Clearly, the "masses" are not concerned enough about 3D to either A) spend the money for a 3D TV (projected 3D TV sales are off by about 3000% in the last 5 years), or B) spend the money for ESPN 3D.
In my opinion, until they make a "glasses-free" (aka "auto stereoscopic") consumer-priced, 3D television set, stereoscopic 3D will remain the darling of a select group of filmmakers and studio executives looking to boost weekend box office results, or provide a more immersive experience for about 5% of the audience that actually cares.
I like 3D, most of the time. I don't mind paying a little more to see something that was PROPERLY shot in 3D (Avatar, and...well...that's it). But these people are totally phoning it in at this point. When the studios stop converting 2D images to 3D to boost box office receipts, I'll start paying a little more attention.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324188604578541401868288438.html