3D Needs a ‘Home Standard’

3D is coming – and perhaps faster than anyone anticipated. That might result in problems for viewers, says a new report. The problem is that old challenge over standards. Screen Digest, a highly-regarded industry body, says that Avatar’s success has proven that consumers will happily pay more for what they see as premium content theatrically. With home entertainment spending “continuing to decline” finding new ways of getting a few more dollars out of viewers’ pockets “is becoming increasingly urgent”.

“This makes creating a unified standard critical,” says Screen Digest. The argument is that a format war such as that over HD-DVD and Blu-ray would only confuse buyers and delay or “even prevent” the adoption of 3D technology in the home.

Screen Digest has updated the industry with its latest snap-shot as to where the various standards bodies are today:

It says that the influential Society of Motion Pictures & Television Engineers (SMPTE) is responsible for establishing standards for the first step in getting 3D to the home, which is the 3D Home Master. SMPTE’s 3D Home Master ‘standard’ is expected to be finalised this July/August.

The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) is well ahead of the game having ‘fixed’ its standard in December 2009, and Screen Digest says that the BDA’s ‘full HD 1080p 3D’ specification will be the only method of getting full 3D to the home.

The giant Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and best known for its January CES trade show in Las Vegas, is working on HDMI 1.4 as the connecting interface between devices. The CEA is also working on specs for eyeware, via the CEA’s R4 video standards committee, is under examination for a standard, as is closed captioning. Final standards in these areas are due sometime in 2010 says Screen Digest.

Transporting of 3D images and content generally is the task of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE), which started its investigation in September last year.

There is considerable cross-over and co-operation between the various bodies, and a number of “ad hoc” groups have emerged. While SMPTE’s plan for a July/August date for its final standard are welcomed, the other groups “have some way to go yet,” says Screen Digest.

With Japan’s BS11 channel already testing 3D transmissions, and BSkyB, DirecTV and Canal Plus all now having promised 3D broadcasts this year, it is a question of ‘buyer beware’ as far as equipment is concerned. The major consumer electronics suppliers say that their displays will handle all expected developments.

By Chris Forrester, Rapid TV News