Blu-ray 3D Sales Leading To Higher 3D TV Growth
Given a choice, glasses free 3D TV set and viewing experience is what most home 3D TV owners would prefer. As it is the cost of the TV sets itself had not much of a difference as on today’s date.
Research or rather survey carried out by Futuresource Consulting returns such statistics that prove this point. The survey also points out that Amazing Spider Man and The Hobbit genre of Blu-ray3D titles is what viewers want to watch on their 3D capable TV sets.
In the words of Jim Bottoms who is a consultancy director on the issue of cost of making a passive 3D TV set, “The additional manufacturing cost of applying a polarising lens to a display panel is offset by the cheaper passive polarised glasses and the ability to use displays with a lower refresh rate.” The refresh rate that is used in thE active 3D technology is 240 Hz, whereas that used in passive sets is 120 Hz.
Cost of Active technology based TV sets have dropped substantially since its inception when the cost difference was about $100 and more compared to that of sets based on passive technology. This was mainly due to the cost of the viewing glasses which now have come down to $20 apiece.
Jim Bottom adds, “Auto-stereoscopic displays are the Holy Grail in terms of 3D viewing; however there are several elements that must fall into place before these become widely available to consumers. Not only must manufacturing costs be reduced to a level where the displays can be sold at a mass-market price point, the sets must also be able to deliver a 3D experience equivalent to, or ideally exceeding, the quality of today’s active shutter 3D displays.”
Content is the main factor for the sustenance and progress of 3D TV as per the research groups study report.
Given the current movie titles that are today available in 3D the research study estimates the number to reach 175 by the end of this year 2012. By 2013 the study estimates a further 105 more 3D movies to be added to this list which would be a mix of documentary, indie films and blockbusters as well.
So far as penetration of 3D TV in households go, the survey reveals 3.1 million homes in Western Europe possess a 3D TV as well as a 3D player like a Blu-ray or PS3. This number is expected to go up to 41 percent by 2016.
The number of Blu-ray players with 3D capability in the US that were sold in 2011 is 4.8 million and in Western Europe the number was 3 million. The reason for sales was the 3D titles which accounted for 5 percent of the total sales.
Prediction by Futuresource indicates the number of Blu-ray sales to touch 11.5 million in 2012. The reason is the increased availability of good 3D content. The study also predicts the sales to reach 24 percent of total Blu-ray sold by 2016.
Total sales of Blu-ray players in Western Europe is predicted to reach 11 percent in 2012 which in numbers is 8 billion units and by 2016 this figure in percentage would reach 35 percent.
via 3dfocus
Sovan Mandal is the senior tablet and tech corespondent for goodereader.com and 3D Specialist. He brings a international approach to news that is not just applicable to the North American market, but also Asia, India, Europe and others. Sovy brings his own writing flavor to the website and is interested in Science Fiction, Technology and Writing. Any questions, send an email
