/ 07.01.2010 12:00AM
DirecTV and Panasonic Launch 3D Channels
NEW YORK:
DirecTV launched all three of its planned 3D channels today in partnership with
Panasonic, the companies said in a joint announcement. Today’s launch of the 3D
entertainment channel, n3D, marks the first 24/7 network available in the
format. DirecTV is referring to the channel as “n3D powered by Panasonic,”
given the electronics maker is the sole sponsor of the satellite operator’s 3D
offerings.
n3D is up on Ch. 103 on DirecTV’s systems. In addition to shows contributed by
other networks and production houses, DirecTV contracted some original programming.
July’s slate includes original 3D “Guitar Center Sessions” featuring Peter
Gabriel and Jane’s Addiction, “Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia,” “Wild Safari: A
South African Adventure” and N Wave Picture’s “S.O.S Planet, ” “African Adventure:
Safari in the Okavango” and “Encounter in the Third Dimension.”
n3D will also offer special events, including this weekend’s NASCAR Coke Zero
400, the local broadcast of the Yankees-Mariners series July 10-11 from
Seattle’s Safeco Field, and DirecTV’s exclusive, national broadcast of the Fox Sports
2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 3D on July 13.
DirecTV said it also launched its movie channel, DirecTV Cinema 3D, on Ch. 104.
Fare includes IMAX titles like “Deep Sea 3D” and “Under the Sea 3D.” The third
channel of the 3D suite is an on-demand offering at Ch. 105. Dubbed “n3D On
Demand,” it’s currently offering replays of ESPN’s 3D 2010 FIFA World Cup
coverage. The three new 3D channels join ESPN 3D, launched at Ch. 106 June 11.
Panasonic’s dog in the race is a full-bore entry into making 3DTV equipment,
from camcorder technology to Blu-ray authoring, Blu-ray players and a 3D line
of Viera plasma TVs. Panasonic hit the U.S. market with 3DTV home theater
systems in mid-March, and the 3D Vieras around the end of May.
-- Deborah D. McAdams
See...
June 17, 2010: “3DTV Set Prices Are
Falling Fast”
Prices for 3DTV sets are plummeting just four months after hitting the U.S.
retail market.
May 19, 2010
: “Panasonic Adds Video
Calls and 3D Discs to TV Deals”
Panasonic is sweetening its TV deals with functionality and tchotchkes.
March 3, 2010
: “3DTVs
Hit the Market”
Samsung beat the rest when it started offering the UN46C7000 and the UN55C7000
LED edge-lit, 1080p sets at online retailer Amazon.
June 30, 2010: DirecTV Prepares to Launch n3D July 1
EL SEGUNDO, CALIF.: DirecTV
plans to launch its own 24/7 3D channel tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. That’s
according to Todd Spangler of Multichannel
News.He says the direct broadcast satellite provider is mum on
the
content line-up, though several contributors were named when DirecTV
announced
it’s 3D initiative in January. CBS, AEG, Fox Sports, HDNet, NBCU, Turner
MTV
and Golden Boy Productions were on the list. ESPN 3D was later added and
hit
screens two weeks ago with the opening match of the 2010 World Cup.
The new channel going live tomorrow, n3D, would be the world’s first
24/7,
non-anaglyph stereoscopic 3DTV network to launch. It’s being sponsored
by Panasonic
and will feature “3D sports, music, nature, arts and more” on Ch. 103,
according to DirecTV. Additional pay-per-view and video-on-demand
channels were
planned for a June launch. DirecTV.com still
has DirecTV Cinema, a pay-per-view movie channel at Ch. 104; and DirecTV
on
Demand, Ch. 105, listed for a June launch.
n3D will be available to DirecTV subscribers who have HD service and
newer
set-top boxes, Spangler said. They’ll also have to have 3D-capable TV
sets.
DirecTV’s HD tier is an additional $10 a month.
ESPN 3D still has a number of 2010 World Cup games to go, after which it
will
carry the X Games, the 2010 college football ACC Championship and some
70 or so
more live sporting events. (The original goal was 85, but ESPN
executives have
recently said they intend to do 100 total live events in 3D this year.)
DirecTV will be among multichannel video providers carrying the
first-ever
Major League Baseball games in 3D. On July 10 and 11, the New York
Yankees and
the Seattle Mariners will face off at Seattle’s Safeco Field (left) and
be telecast
live in 3D on YES’s home turf.
DirecTV subscribers who get YES in New York, Connecticut, north and
central New
Jersey and northeast Pennsylvania will have access to the feed, as will
subs
who get FSN Northwest in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and parts of Montana
and
Idaho.
DirecTV and Panasonic are sponsoring the 3D feed of the game. Comcast,
Cox and
Verizon’s FiOS TV will also carry it. The Saturday, July 10 game
telecast will
begin at 10 p.m., and the Sunday, July 11 game telecast will start at 4
p.m., both Eastern. YES and FSN Northwest will both also produce their
traditional 2D
high-definition telecasts of both games.
-- Deborah D. McAdams
(Image of Safeco Field by Rickie22)