Spaced Out

Stampede to 3-D despite scant content

0 Comments | Timaru Herald, May 24, 2010 | by MCENTEE Claire

THE LOWDOWN How pricey is 3-D? Plasma 50-inch TVs: Samsung with 3-D: $3499

LG without 3-D: $2499

LED 40-inch TVs

Samsung with 3-D: $3999

Sony without 3-D: $3000

LCD 46-inch TVs:

Samsung with 3-D: $3400

Samsung without 3-D: $2499

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NEW ZEALANDERS have begun to snap up 3-D televisions, despite a dearth of programming in the format and reluctance from local broadcasters to take the plunge.

Football fans in Australia will be able to tune into a 3-D broadcast of the All Whites-Socceroos pre-World Cup clash tonight, but New Zealand followers are out of luck.

Retailers began selling a range of Samsung models this month ranging in price from $3399 to $5499.

Samsung said thousands of televisions had been sold in New Zealand and it had had to ship extra product in to meet demand.

But Noel Leeming merchandise general manager Jason Bell said Samsung had brought in just hundreds of 3-D sets because of a global shortage, which had limited sales.

Samsung had probably sold thousands of televisions to retailers, rather than thousands of sets to consumers, he said.

“We would have sold more if we could have got the stock. There hasn’t been stock available since the launch and most of the time we’ve been pre-selling. But it should start getting better over the next couple of months.”

Interest in the televisions was strong, with people queuing in Noel Leeming stores on launch weekend to sample the technology, but there was still very little 3-D programming to watch.

The Samsung sets convert 2-D programming to 3-D and while the quality was reasonable, it was not as good as true 3-D, Mr Bell said.

“Most people who have bought them at the moment are really just future-proofing themselves. They’re in the market for high- spec, good-quality televisions. They’re maybe not hugely interested in 3- D because of the limited content but it will come through.”

The picture was likely to be somewhat rosier in a year or so, when there would be plenty of movie titles in 3-D, but “where it will be disappointing is when it’s not available for major sporting events like the Rugby World Cup”.

Sky Television plans to film next year’s Rugby World Cup in 2-D only, but it appears likely some games may be broadcast in 3-D outside New Zealand, including in Britain.

The growing internet capability of televisions, which let people access YouTube and specialised content, combined with 3-D, would help drive TV sales, Mr Bell said.

Sky spokesman Tony O’Brien said consumer uptake would dictate the growth of 3-D programming here. “You’ve got to have that critical mass out there.”

The technical format for 3-D had not been finalised and producing sports in 3-D presented “significant operational issues”, including the need for eight extra cameras.

New Zealanders would be reluctant to buy 3-D televisions as they had only just upgraded en masse to high-definition.

Fellow broadcasters Television New Zealand and MediaWorks have also ruled out early forays into 3-D.

Consumer New Zealand chief executive Sue Chetwin warned shoppers to be wary of 3-D.

The televisions were relatively expensive, consumers would have to shell out for a 3-D Blu-ray player at $699 and extra glasses at either $149 or $199 a pair, and there was very little programming.

“It’s all right for you and your family but if you have friends around to watch it, you’ll have to get them glasses as well.

“If you’ve got those glasses on and you want to do something else at the same time while you’re watching TV, it could get a bit tricky.”

Samsung marketing director Rachael Cotton-Bronte said shoppers had been pleasantly surprised by the prices of the televisions, which also let people access online services through their home internet connections or a wireless connection.

More 3-D content was coming
samsung 50-inch plasma tv