Panasonic will discount the prices of the 3D models by 50% as it creates demand for the new category using pricing as its positioning point. Best Buy will release and expand Panasonic’s new category to over 1,000 stores. Pricing for a 3D 50-inch model will start at around $2,500, and that’s after the near-50% discount. A standard 50″ LCD television goes for about half of $2,500 right now from several brands on Best Buy’s website.

Forecasts have 3D television becoming a 15.6 million-unit business in 2013 after a 500,000-unit business last year.