Winter, Spring, Summer And Now Three Dee!: 3D Demo Days coming this fall

Posted by Jonathan in TELEVISION on 08-16-10    No Comments


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It’s cute to see that finally the 3D industry is getting into its circus barker phase.

ESPN, DirecTV, AT&T and Comcast are rolling out  3D Demo Days from Sept. 10-12. During that weekend, ESPN will basically be going 3D 24/7 with a full slate of games and shoulder programming. The weekend will feature Ohio State vs. Miami and then basically reruns of all the cool 3D moments from the FIFA World Cup,  the X Games 16 and the only New Y0rk area basketball team that can win a game, The Harlem Globetrotters. Also the Consumer Electronics Association is involved so expect some live in-store tie-ins at retailers as they attempt to move some 3D TVs glasses and active sync devices. Think free HBO for a weekend except it’s 3D.

No doubt, this is cool. I will be watching. And clearly 3D gear will be on everyone’s holiday wish list. But the active word here is “wish.” The fact is, the U.S. economy stinks, and the average person just doesn’t have $1,600 in disposable income to drop on new 3D technology. That really means that the consumer electronics industry can no longer rely on the traditional demand curves that six decades of post-war prosperity have provided. It’s now a no-growth world, and no government can — or should — solve that problem. So it really is up to the technology innovators to spur the demand for  their own goods.

Said another way, until these 3D stakeholders — that means the combined corporate might of Disney, Comcast, AT&T and dozens of consumer electronics makers — have rolled out a clear plan where they hire enough new employees with fat enough salaries to give folks the spare $1,600 for a new  TVs, 3D, or any other new technology, will simply not deploy. And even if that happens, people have to pay down their debts before springing for a new TV.

3D is cool — probably the coolest thing to happen to television since color. But 3D TV  does not put food on the table, a roof over that table or keep the creditors from the door. People have to have good jobs first. And then 3D will sell like mad.

Until then, 3D is  just another cool technology that the average Jane or Joe can’t afford.

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