Are 3D TVs the future?

The future of home entertainment?

With James Cameron's Avatar proving to be so popular with cinema-goers that it is now the second most successful film ever, electronic manufacturers are now looking to cash in on its success - by releasing a range of 3D TVs.

For the past couple of years, cinemas have been releasing an ever increasing number of 3D films such as The Christmas Carol and Ice Age 3 in a bid to get more and more people back to theatres. However now, the home entertainment industry believes that 3D has become so popular with the masses, that 2010 will become the breakthrough year for the technology.

At the Consumer Electronics Show, CES, in Las Vegas, all the major electronic producers have unveiled their 3D TVs and an industry survey expects about 3.4 million sets to be sold in the US this year alone.

However, with HD-content not yet fully established in the home (while some consumers have HD-TVs, many don't watch HD-content) is it too soon for the public to embrace 3D TVs?

Riding the success of 3D movies

One man who believes that 3D TVs are the future of home entertainment is Jeffrey Katzenberg, the head of DreamWorks Animation. Last year, DreamWorks released their hit film Monsters vs. Aliens in 3D to high box office takings and look to do the same this year with How To Train Your Dragon, but with 3D only taking off in the last two years is it too soon for domestic viewing?

"While 3D has taken a number of years to penetrate in the movie theatres, I believe this is the year it will begin to enter the home," Jeffrey Katzenberg said to BBC News.

"It usually takes from five to ten years to transition from one platform to a newer one. To go from analogue to digital has taken about ten years so that is why I say to you this is the year in which 3D is going to enter the home in a really meaningful way."

While Katzenberg is hopeful, with DreamWorks even releasing Monsters vs. Aliens as a 3D Blu-ray disc, industry experts are less sure. Whilst Blu-Ray won the HD-format war against HD-discs, it hasn't taken off in the way that many hoped and prices have fallen dramatically over the past 12 months in order to make it more appealing to consumers.

However, with films now available to download and stream over the internet, 3D discs may be a way for Blu-Ray to gain more momentum, especially with Avatar's success. Monsters vs. Aliens isn't the first film to be released in 3D though - both My Bloody Valentine 3D and Coraline both got 3D releases on Blu Ray and consumers were quick to criticise the poor transfer, citing muted colour and poor 3D effects as a major turn-off. Will 3D TVs remedy this?

Manufacturers are hoping so...

Industry hopes

With companies like Samsung, Sony and Pansonic prepping their TVs, a survey by the Consumer Electronics Association would seem to indicate that public might be willing to embrace this technology after the slow acceptance of HD-TVs and content.

"One of the key findings is that we don't need to convince consumers that 3D is different," said Shawn DuBravac, the CEA's chief economist, to the BBC.

"This is the struggle we had with HDTV (high-definition TV.) 25 percent of consumers say they will own a 3D TV over the next three years. By 2013, a quarter of all sets sold will be 3D," he added.

However, one major factor will be price - something that has been cited as the reason people were slow to get Blu-Ray players and HD-TVs. Will people be willing to splash out again so soon after buying a HD-TV?

"I think all the CE (consumer electronics) companies are waiting to see what the others do (on pricing)," said Ahmad Ouri, chief marketing office of Technicolor.

"It can't be double the price tag, or it's a non-starter."

As some-one who has an HD-TV and is reluctant to pay out again, it will be interesting to see how much the initial TVs and more importantly, if the technology is actually any good. While Avatar on an IMAX 3D screen may be a sight to behold, will 3D technology actually work in the living room or will it seemly be an unnecessary burden, especially if there aren't enough glasses for everyone...

And who really wants to watch every film and show in 3D?

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