Discovery's Zaslav Talks 3D at NATPE

The box office success of Avatar and other 3D pics seems to be setting the table for a boom in 3D TV, Discovery Communications chief David Zaslav said Monday as part of his keynote sesh that opened the NATPE confab. Discovery, Sony and Imax earlier this month unveiled a partnership to launch a 24-hour 3D cable channel in the U.S. next year.

Zaslav admitted that the company's push into 3D is a gamble, but he pointed to the booming 3D B.O. as a "significant indicator" that there's an appetite for home 3D devices. Zaslav likened the move into 3D to the investment Discovery made several years ago in launching HD TV channels, which have paid off handsomely for the company.

With new technologies, "You have to place your bets before all the evidence is in," Zaslav said during the Q&A moderated by Daily Variety's Brian Lowry.

Discovery's risk is mitigated somewhat by having two partners, Sony and Imax. Zaslav said he was sold on 3D TV after attending the Consumer Electronics Show this month in Vegas, where it was clear that TV set manufacturers "are getting behind this (technology) in a very big way."

The creative community is likely to tubthump for 3D TV so that movies such as Avatar can be viewed in their original formats on DVD. Zaslav added that he was impressed by the 3D TV demonstrations he saw, such as a baseball game in the format. "It almost looks like the pitch is going to hit you," Zaslav marveled.

The three partners plan to produce enough 3D programming to fill a 24/7 channel. Discovery is also looking at "upconverting" some of the shows in its vast library to 3D, just as the majors are doing with classic pic titles.

By Cynthia Littleton, Variety