3D TVs in NZ in April

Reuters

COMING SOON: 3D TVs should be on sale in New Zealand next month.

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New Zealanders will be able to snap up 3D TVs next month, hot on the heels of their release in the United States this week.

But be warned, there may not be a lot of 3D programmes to watch at first, although 3D sports is on the horizon and porn movies are already cashing in on the hype created by big screen film Avatar.

Samsung has confirmed it will begin selling the TVs in New Zealand next month, while Panasonic will launch three 3D models here mid-year. Both have so far been coy on pricing, though it is likely to be several thousand dollars.

The two manufacturers will start selling 3D TVs in US stores this week, inaugurating what TV makers hope is the era of 3D viewing in the living room.

Samsung announced this week that it is selling two 3D sets in the US. Combined with the required glasses and a 3D Blu-ray player, the prices start at about US$3000 (NZ$4221) for a 116-centimetre screen.

Panasonic Corp has said it will sell its first 3D set in the US.

The push into the living room comes as moviegoers have shown considerable enthusiasm for the latest wave of 3D fare in the theatre.

Last weekend, Alice in Wonderland grossed an estimated US$116.2 million at the box office, beating the first-weekend receipts of Avatar, the Christmas 3D blockbuster.

Although it's clear that 3D sets for the home will appeal to technology and home-theatre enthusiasts, it remains to be seen if the TVs will entice regular consumers to spend $500 or more above the price of a comparably sized standard TV and Blu-ray player.

The 3D effect requires viewers to wear relatively bulky glasses that need to be recharged occasionally. They're not like the cheap throwaways that have been used in theatres since the 1950s - with Samsung charging US$150 a pair.

To watch 3D DVDs, consumers without a Playstation 3 will also need to upgrade to a 3D compatible Blu-ray high-definition player - which will cost about US$400.

And for now, there isn't much to watch.

New Zealand broadcasters including Sky and TVNZ have warned 3D programming in New Zealand is still years away because the technology standard is yet to be finalised and 3D programming is hugely expensive to produce.

Sky TV spokesman Tony O'Brien doubted New Zealanders who had recently upgraded to high- definition TVs would be eager to splash out on 3D TVs in a hurry.

Samsung is including a 3D copy of Monsters vs. Aliens on Blu-ray discs with its US packages. Eventually, sports and other programming that will benefit from a more immersive experience should be offered in 3D.

ESPN has said it will start a channel that will broadcast live events using the technology, starting with Fifa World Cup soccer in June.

In contrast the porn industry has been quick to seize on 3D, and has already begun shooting and selling 3D films.

- © Fairfax NZ News