DirecTv 3D Launch in June

[Davenlr]

DIRECTV to Launch ESPN 3D to Millions of Customers Nationwide
Beginning in June, DIRECTV Will Debut ESPN 3D with 2010 FIFA World Cup Matches

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/news/2010/03/directv_to_launch_espn_3d_to_millions_of_customers _nationwide.php

[PhilS]

DIRECTV to Launch ESPN 3D to Millions of Customers Nationwide
Beginning in June, DIRECTV Will Debut ESPN 3D with 2010 FIFA World Cup Matches

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/news/2010/03/directv_to_launch_espn_3d_to_millions_of_customers _nationwide.php
All must be well with D12

[Sixto]

All must be well with D12Yes. :)

[Hutchinshouse]

What percentage of those “Millions of Customers” actually own a 3D ready TV? I’ll say less than 2%.

[Hdhead]

God, these darn people are going to compel me to buy another new TV. Damn technology.:ewww:

[FHSPSU67]

I anticipate a lot of action at the Best Buy's of the world. Too bad I can't go to my former local Circuit City:(

[Impala1ss]

Great info. but this always p*sses me off. Why will D* refuse to communicate this level of info. to their customers? This company simply has to worst communication with their customers since Marie said "let them eat cake." :mad::mad:

[bamaweather]

Great info. but this always p*sses me off. Why will D* refuse to communicate this level of info. to their customers? This company simply has to worst communication with their customers since Marie said "let them eat cake." :mad::mad:

That is a DirecTV press release copied verbatim onto the hdtvmagazine.com website. It's available on DirecTV's website to anyone who chooses to visit. Since I don't want to have to check the press release section every day, I have the DirecTV press releases RSS feed set up in Google Reader, and I saw this release this morning before even coming here.

And now that it's public, I would assume they will make it known to their customers through other avenues. But since it was just posted this morning, it might be a little presumptuous to say they won't communicate this to their customers before it happens.

[paakoridge]

I looked at the 55" Samsung with 3d Blu-Ray at best Buy on Friday and it is quite impressive, so it does give you a woodie for moving up the technology curve, until you hear the $3500 price tag (with 2 pairs of powered shutter 3D glasses).
Recommnedation: wait until Vizio launches the 2 or 3 models in August (one possible a 72"), then buy the package from Costco for Christmas. Hopefully more content available by then, maybe even MSG on Center Ice in 3D.

[mcbeevee]

Great info. but this always p*sses me off. Why will D* refuse to communicate this level of info. to their customers? This company simply has to worst communication with their customers since Marie said "let them eat cake." :mad::mad:
Here is the official Directv press release (http://dtv.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=455066). You can automatically receive press releases by setting up an e-mail alert here (http://dtv.client.shareholder.com/alerts.cfm?).

:)

[Hoosier205]

Great info. but this always p*sses me off. Why will D* refuse to communicate this level of info. to their customers? This company simply has to worst communication with their customers since Marie said "let them eat cake." :mad::mad:

What exactly wasn't communicated to you?

[GregLee]

Recommnedation: wait until Vizio launches the 2 or 3 models in August (one possible a 72"), then buy the package from Costco for Christmas.
I'm eager to see what the 3D Vizios will be like. Also, Samsung has announced a 50" 3D plasma for $1800 due April 2. So far, it appears that plasma may work better for 3D -- less ghosting.

[Hoosier205]

I'm eager to see what the 3D Vizios will be like. Also, Samsung has announced a 50" 3D plasma for $1800 due April 2. So far, it appears that plasma may work better for 3D -- less ghosting.

Well, they still only be Vizios! :D Only kidding.

[jdspencer]

This is great news! I bet when the 3D TVs become available more, the prices of non 3D sets will drop.

[Hey_Hey]

Any speculation on whether the promised "free software upgrade" for HD will include allowing our HR2x HD Plus DVR's to record and playback the 3D channels? Or will it require an upgrade to an HRxx 3D plus-plus DVR?

[taz291819]

Any speculation on whether the promised "free software upgrade" for HD will include allowing our HR2x HD Plus DVR's to record and playback the 3D channels? Or will it require an upgrade to an HRxx 3D plus-plus DVR?

It can record 3D programming just like 2D programming. It'll basically look like this if you don't have a 3D display:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMpyksmLo8Q

[Retro]

What percentage of those “Millions of Customers” actually own a 3D ready TV? I’ll say less than 2%.
I'd say less than that.. More like .3%. We've now just gotten HD into most households. Next christmas season the big thing will be 3D TV as long as they continue to put out more movies in that format and people have a reason to upgrade..

[Retro]

Great info. but this always p*sses me off. Why will D* refuse to communicate this level of info. to their customers? This company simply has to worst communication with their customers since Marie said "let them eat cake." :mad::mad:

You can also get easy updates via Directv's Twitter acct.

http://twitter.com/DIRECTV

[Impala1ss]

You can also get easy updates via Directv's Twitter acct.

http://twitter.com/DIRECTV

Thanks to all for your info regarding where to find D* info. It will help me greatly. Sorry, but I am sensitive to D*'s lack of consumer information .

[taz291819]

I'd say less than that.. More like .3%. We've now just gotten HD into most households. Next christmas season the big thing will be 3D TV as long as they continue to put out more movies in that format and people have a reason to upgrade..

Exactly. They have to start somewhere. For years, we only had 3 or 4 HD channels on Directv, and now look at it.

[Athlon646464]

Has the FCC set a date for the 3D transition? When will my HDTV go dark?

:eek2:

[Beerstalker]

Has the FCC set a date for the 3D transition? When will my HDTV go dark?

:eek2:

I hope you are kidding, that isn't even a blip on the FCC radar. Right now they are too worried about trying to get rid of OTA TV altogether.

[Athlon646464]

Yes, I was joking.... (my lame attempt at sarcasm) :D

[RAD]

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0605546.htm

Maybe we can get Sixto to keep an eye on the transponder mapping during the NAB to see if there's a hint on how much bandwidth 3D will be taking?

[WholeHomeDVR]

[url]...how much bandwidth 3D will be taking?

DirecTV will use its existing HD encoders from Harmonic to launch three dedicated 3DTV channels in June, in a "frame-compatible" format that takes up the same amount of space as a regular HD stream.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/451205-DirecTV_To_Deliver_3DTV_With_Harmonic_Encoders.php ?rssid=20076

Harmonic, which already provides MPEG-4 HD encoding for a number of DirecTV channels, says that its Electra encoders will compress the DirecTV 3D content in a frame-compatible 3D format for viewing on a Panasonic Viera 3D plasma display equipped with companion active-shutter glasses.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/451204-NAB_2010_Harmonic_to_Demonstrate_3D_with_DirecTV_P anasonic.php

Sky's 3d works with polarized or shutter glasses, should be the same for DirecTV.

http://introducingsky3d.sky.com/a/3d-the-science-bit/

BROADCAST SERVICES :: 3D VIA SATELLITE (Not sky or DirecTV)

http://www.eutelsat.com/products/broadcast-3d.html

[WholeHomeDVR]

Across the pond... Sky Television claim first 3D broadcast as a success. (Channel on Sky is a preview channel, with the games blocked - only viewable at the pubs)

http://www.thedrum.co.uk/news/2010/04/03/13335-sky-television-claim-first-3d-broadcast-as-a-success

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12193_6082327,00.html

http://3d.sky.com/pubfinder/

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2010/04/03/sky-3d-kicks-off/

[WholeHomeDVR]

This is Phase 1: Frame Compatible Stereo - using Side-by-Side (Anamorphic) or Above / Below (Anamorphic) with Horizontal or Vertical HD Resolution reduced by 50% (Half Resolution)
Phase 1 uses Standard HD transmissions (Providing reduced resolution 3D only) The transmission is a HD image - the screen split in half, one image on each side for each eye. Viewed on a HD TV you would see two images side by side. The STB views this as a regular HD channel - the TV processes the 3D.

DirecTV may use a slightly higher bitrate for 3D than it currently uses for its normal MPEG-4 HD streams. You could dismiss the notion that fitting 3D in the same bitrate as 2D HD, by using the side-by-side interleaved format, means cutting the horizontal resolution in half. It would only be half if you were transmitting identical left- and right-eye images. 3D already gives a gain, as every odd pixel to one eye is representing an even pixel to the other one.

It is not Phase 2: 2D Compatible Stereo Frame Sequential (higher framerates) - every other frame being targeted at a different eye, that will Offer Full HD 3D (FHD3D) (Blu-Ray quality) resolution once deployed
Phase 2 will Require new consumer devices, require increased relative bandwidth (From 50 to 80% more (using MVC coding)), New STB chipsets required, New broadcast infrastructure required


http://3dcinecast.blogspot.com/2010/04/3-d-tv-are-you-ready.html
http://www.ses-worldskies.com/worldskies/news_and_events/Broadcast_Forum_2010/Broadcast_Forum_2010_Pdfs/4___Introduction_to_3DTV_-_Christophory.pdf
http://tech.ebu.ch/docs/tech-i/ebu_tech-i_003.pdf (DVB begins 3D TV)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/449466-Transmitting_3D_in_a_2D_World.php