Half of US Viewers Will Take 3D-TV

Fresh on top of yesterday’s buoyant forecasts for the sales of 3D-TV sets comes another upbeat report on 3D’s television prospects. This time it is Futuresource which suggests that within four years the majority of TV sets available will be 3D-equipped. The end result is that a good proportion of homes in the US, Europe and Japan will be able to view 3D content.

“Our research shows an imminent upsurge in the adoption of 3D-capable High Definition and Blu-ray hardware, now strengthened by a clearly defined 3D roadmap,” says Jim Bottoms, Director at Futuresource. “We expect that a high percentage of BD players will ship with 3D capability next year, and within a few years it will probably be difficult to buy a player without 3D.”

“With a number of leading hardware brands all vying to carve out an early position in the 3D-TV and BD market, 3D Ready TVs and players will seed the 3D market in much the same way as the HD market was primed five years ago,” says John Bird, a leading strategy analyst at Futuresource. “By 2015 we expect the majority of TVs available will be 3D-Ready and the normal replacement cycle will result in a good proportion of households in the US, Japan and Europe having a 3D-capable display,” says Bird. “There is a real feeling of excitement surrounding 3D and here at Futuresource we believe the new unified approach will translate into commercial success within the course of the next few years.”

By Chris Forrester, Rapid TV News