Developed by Stream TV Networks, Inc., the producer of the eLocity brand of mobile tablets launched first in 2010, the Ultra-D technology is strictly proprietary and leverages custom hardware, middleware techniques and software algorithms to create unprecedentedautostereoscopic 3D imagery. This technology will provide consumers with access tounlimited 3D content by enabling real-time conversion of:

2D content into 3D autostereoscopic (without glasses)
3D stereoscopic content (with glasses) to 3D autostereoscopic (without glasses)

The Ultra-D technology thus supports the immediate adoption of 3D consumer hardware despite limited availability of 3D content. Real-time conversion of 2D to 3D and 3D with glasses to 3D without glasses works seamlessly with various content formats including Blu-ray, DVD, PC gaming, Internet, cable and satellite content.

“The quality of glasses-free 3DTV technologies have been hampered by viewing angles, depth, resolution and real-time imagery issues with few yet to deliver that premium-viewing experience,” said Thomas Wrede, vice-president, reception systems SES Astra. “iPONT’s maturing technology is an intriguing development and its progress has been impressive, making us confident that glasses-free 3DTV for the home is going with us in the not too distant future.”

On the market realisation of glasses-free 3DTV, Tamas Vahl, global director iPONT International said: “Major TV operators know that for 3D to truly go mainstream glasses-free 3DTV needs to happen sooner rather than later. Once that conundrum is solved then it will make it easier for pay TV operators to sell 3D TV to the consumer and to programme makers, which we expect to drive the next wave of top-tier HD programming.”

“When we did the (baseball) All-Star Game in 3D (in July), we took a lot of heat from the affiliates, even though the viewership for that was small. The Super Bowl is the crown jewel, and having any kind of perceived crack in the exclusivity of that programming is a big deal,” he said.

LG Electronics announced this week that they have launched the first 3DTV to earn certification from audio/visual technology company THX.

The PX950 plasma series is available now in 60-inch ($2,999) and 50-inch ($1,999) sizes. THX certified the 3DTVs after more than 400 tests, evaluating color accuracy, viewing angles and video processing performance, LG said. The 3DTVs use active shutter glasses.

“THX spent more than a year in the lab developing our certification criteria and testing methodologies for 3D TVs and content,” said THX SVP Rick Dean. “To present a truly immersive 3D experience in the home, a THX 3D certified TV must be capable of delivering consistent stereoscopic images with accurate color and clean processing.

Verizon has added video-on-demand content from WealthTV in 3D throughout its FiOS service network. The channel, called “the premier luxury lifestyle and entertainment network,” has launched its first 3D content with an episode of “Wealth on Wheels Classic.”

“Seeing the classic cars come to life in 3D will make viewers feel like they’re in the driver’s seat,” said Tricia Lynch, director of content strategy and acquisition for Verizon. WealthTV’s 3D VOD program is available to all FiOS TV customers across the country who have a 3D television set, 3D glasses and a high-definition set-top box.

Verizon Communications will telecast Major League Baseball in 3D, the company has announced on its official website this week.

Verizon Communications, one of the largest providers of broadband and wireless communication services in the United States, is planning to telecast the matches for its FiOS TV customers across New York state and north New Jersey.

The game between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners, which will be on the 10th and 11th of July, will be made available through the YES Network on FiOS TV for Verizon customers with 3DTV sets, 3D glasses and a high-def set-top box.

US market research house In-Stat cites upcoming growth of 3D in the firm’s US Consumer Electronic Device Tracker report.

In-Stat claims that “3D is the hottest thing happening in Hollywood” and that excitement over 3D has found its way to the US consumer electronics market. By 2013, the firm says, one in five new TVs sold in the US will be 3D.

The company also predicted that year-on-year 3D TV shipments will grow 231% between 2010 and 2011 and that this will result n a doubling of the US installed base of units for 3DTVs from 2010 to 2011.

The World Cup events started this week in Johannesburg, South Africa’s 94,000-capacity Soccer City stadium. The games will be carried on television around the world for the first time in 3D. This global sports event marks the launch of ESPN 3D in the United States, and the first full-time 3D programming channel in the world.

Five of the 10 World Cup venues are equipped for 3D. Eight matches will be broadcast live in 3D to digital cinema theaters in 26 countries. ESPN’s 3DTV channel becomes the first ever programming service dedicated full time to 3D. ESPN will carry 25 of the 64 World Cup games in 3D. They intend to become a pioneer in 3D ads with spots from Sony, Gillette, Disney’s Pixar Studio and in-house promos.

ESPN will launch the first 3D channel on June 11, which coincides with the first day of the World Cup in South Africa. The hope is that its reception will be way different from its HD launch seven years ago when it first debuted on some of the smallest cablers out there.

At this week’s 3DTV2010 event in New York City, sponsored by various NewBay Media publications, ESPN Executive Vice President Sean Bratches said in sharp contrast to the small launch of it HD venues, its first 3D channel will be immediately accessible to the largest TV content provider in America, Comcast; and the largest DBS firm in the country, DirecTV, among others.

“We’re very encouraged with the slate of affiliates we have going into the marketplace with ESPN 3D,” Bratches told Mark Robichaux, editor-in-chief of sister publication Multichannel News. ESPN projects that by 2019, 3D penetration in the U.S. home will be less than HD sets, but higher than DVR penetration.

“Being the first mass 3DTV programmer is important to the ESPN brand and to helping advertisers,” Bratches said at a Q&A session, “particularly TV equipment makers like ESPN 3D partner Sony, [to] drive business opportunities.”

NewBay Media publications serving as the event’s co-sponsors included TV Technology, Broadcasting & Cable, TWICE and MCN, among others.