Shopping for 3-D

TV used to be such a simple affair.  Black and white picture, 3 or 4 channels – without a remote – you would actually have to walk over to the TV set to change stations.  Constantly having to adjust rabbit-ear antennas and possibly having a piece of aluminum foil twisted around the top to improve reception.  Okay, maybe I’m dating myself (I’m not the oldest Pony, but close to it!).

In recent years, we’ve seen an explosion of technology in, on and around our TVs.  The incredible growth of HDTV (high definition television) may make some of us wonder how we ever watched SD (standard definition) TV at all.  Once you couple the incredible pictures with cable or satellite programming and stereo sound you might ask – what can TV makers come up with next to drive sales?

Last year when the Buzz looked at 3-D TV, the question then was whether it was going to be the next big thing?  After all, we’ve seen a lot of 3-D at the movies – that was supposed to spur TV sales.  But, much like the 3-D movie craze from the 1950s, box office receipts are starting to drop.  And TV?  ESPN has a 3-D channel to showcase big sporting events, but the only commercials they seem to run are ones encouraging people to buy… 3-D TVs.  And, neither the major networks nor other channels, are rushing to invest in the technology needed to create other shows in 3-D.  And while prices have come down, a 3-D TV is still more expensive than a regular HDTV – and you still need the glasses!  So an industry-wide switch from 2-D to 3-D might still be a few years off.