Is 3DTV The Next Big Thing?August 25, 2010
On Demand Weekly rounds up stories affecting the On Demand TV / VOD Industry. Let us know what you think and what On Demand stories are important to you here.
Cable Operators Weigh Tech Options for Delivering 3DTV
If 3DTV does become The Next Big Thing, then cable must be a part of it. The new TV capability would follow cable's historical lineage of delivering multichannel television, HDTV, on-demand, interactivity, and other innovations. However, the future of 3DTV on cable holds many challenges that go beyond the issues over 3DTV itself, including the big question of whether consumers are willing to wear special glasses while watching TV... (Heavy Reading Cable Industry Insider)
On Demand Weekly asked Craig Leddy (Heavy Reading Cable Industry Insider) a few follow up questions.
ODW: Aside from dedicated 3D channels, will VOD be the primary platform MSO's can offer 3D TV?
Craig Leddy: VOD will be a primary platform for MSOs to offer 3DTV. For the near term, the big drivers for 3DTV will be movies and events that will work well in an on-demand delivery environment. Cable operators can use their VOD platforms to test their 3DTV delivery capabilities, determine the level of consumer demand, and build awareness of 3DTV around big-ticket movies, sports or other events.
ODW: What kind of time frame can cable subs expect this?
CL: Comcast already is offering 3DTV content on-demand and more cable companies are expected to jump in later this year. Nobody really knows whether 3DTV is truly The Next Big Thing or just a service with narrow niche appeal. So cable customers should let their provider know if they want 3DTV. - Craig Leddy, Heavy Reading Cable Industry Insider
Entertainment Industry Struggles To Adapt As DVD Sales Decline
With advertising revenue back in growth mode, continued declines in DVD sales are emerging as the entertainment industry's most immediate concern in its struggle to adapt to the rise of digital media...(WSJ)
Viewers Just Can't Get Enough Cable
With all of the talk about consumers cutting the cord with cable and viewers flocking to the Web to see their favorite shows or to sample other content, cable shows continue to draw viewers to the television in record numbers.
Viewers during second-quarter 2010 averaged 17 hours per person per week, the highest average for the period ever, according to Turner Research...(Multichannel News)
