Four US broadcasters plan 3D-TV services from Summer 2010: Direct TV, Discovery, ESPN, and CBS. About 40 models of 3D-TV displays should go on sale in US shops this year. All the initial broadcasters will use a 'Frame Compatible' 3D-TV broadcast format, where the Left and Right images are assembled in a spatial multiplex that appears to a conventional HDTV set top box to be a normal HDTV signal. The display receives this, unwraps the spatial multiplex, and displays the Left and Right pictures, one after the other, on the viewer's screen. Virtually all the first displays available use 'shutter glasses' which switch the L and R pictures to the correct eye. Very high display rates are used.
3D-TV takes center stage at NAB Show 2010
3D-TV was very much the hottest topic, from a technical, business, and programme point of view, at this year’s NAB Convention in April 2010. A whole range of technical issues were discussed, including the growing but still limited equipment needed to produce programmes in 3D-TV. Cameras being made available fall into three categories: the side by side pair, the single camera, and the up and over rig. Also a range of post-production systems are available - which are a vital part of 3D-TV programme production.
2D to 3D conversion technologies
One of the most sensitive issues at NAB 2010 was the prospects for upgrading 2D programmes electronically to 3D, using depth maps and sophisticated signal processing. This has been done with several movies, and the 3D-TV sets being now sold do offer the 2D to 3D conversion in the set itself, though not with the same quality as the movie conversions that are done with loving care, much manual attention, at a cost of millions of Euros each movie. For some engineers, these are simply not genuine 3D-TV programmes, and will just hinder the spread of 3D-TV. Time will tell…