Nobody knows how many watched Australia’s first 3D TV broadcast
The 3D broadcast of last night’s Socceroos friendly against New Zealand on Fox Sports may have been a first for Australian TV, but nobody knows how many people tuned in because ratings body OzTam was not asked to provide individual channel viewing data.
The match, the first TV program to air in 3D in this country, was broadcast on the temporary Fox Sports 3D channel – which is found on Foxtel channel 200. It was also broadcast in 2D on Fox Sports 3 and Fox Sports 3HD.
But a spokesman for OzTam confirmed to Mumbrella that it had not separately reported the audience for the 3D broadcast.
In order for the data to be provided, it would have needed to have been given eight weeks’ notice.
A similar issue occurred with the launch of the free-to-air digital channels, with OzTam being given insufficient notice to collect the data from launch.
Instead, last night’s viewing was lumped in the “other subscription TV” category which includes news, children’s, sport and adult channels that have not invested in having their data made available.
OzTam boss Kate Inglis-Clark told Mumbrella that although the data would exist in the back-end of the system, the organisation would not be releasing it.
Among the free-to-air networks Nine will be first to broadcast in 3D tomorrow night, with the first of three live State of Origin matches. The series will be aired on channel 40, but its audience will not be measured by OzTam.
SBS will also use channel 40 when it starts its 3D broadcast of the FIFA World Cup in June. Again, the channel will not be measured by OzTam.
The free-to-air 3D viewing will be placed in the “other FTA” category, which includes community and regional services.
Preliminary ratings from last night’s Socceroos match saw an average audience of 288,000 (including both metro and reguional areas) tune into the non-3D Fox Sports 3 – the highest-rating pay TV program for the day.
Meanwhile, as Mumbrella previously reported, Jetstar aired Australia’s first 3D ad during the live match, which Australia won 2-1.
Damian Keogh, national sales and marketing director for pay TV sales house MCN, said: “By associating with a groundbreaking market first in Australia, Jetstar has generated a huge amount of buzz and talkabilty well beyond the actual viewer eyeballs. They have also positioned themselves as market leaders with the early adopters within Australian television viewing audience.
“Measurement is likely to follow once the 3D element becomes more regular and mainstream. There is always a degree of catch up with any new technology area.”
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Anyone watch the game in 3D?
Got opinion / comment about the experience? Good, bad, awesome, rubbish?
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There’s a good piece on The Punch about the experience, Stuart: http://www.thepunch.com.au/art.....i-aaaargh/
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Does anyone know how many sets there are – I’ve heard 750-1000 and also 7500…?
Also thought this was a good summation of the 3D technology, and is concurrent with the points of view i’ve been given by the sales heads of 3 major TV networks.
http://apcmag.com/dont-buy-a-3.....nstead.htm
So what ive heard is; Expensive content production, marketing gimmick, very small audience, potentially harmful for ones eyes, limits group viewing experiences (not good for sport due number of glasses you need)…
But great for Gaming and Porn (ha!)
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Can I wear the 3D glasses over my normal glasses or does short sightedness rule you out of this one?
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@reevesy – Samsung have sold around 3,500+ units of their 3D product. I am unsure of LG though wouldn’t expect it to be much over 1,000 units if that (as they were second to market + have a lower market share).
What you’ll see is alot of broadcasters pushing the Sport angle – as that is their only linkage to 3D, though there is a fair bit of research is out there around Gaming / Movies and as you mentioned Porn being the largest reasons to purchase.
As with any new technology there is going to be higher production costs – though as these technologies become more common (give it 6-12mths or so when broadcasters will be shooting most sport with 3D cameras) these will come down. 3D though not all that right now, will be.
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Would have thought that Foxtel and Austar would have exact numbers of how many iof their subsciber homes watched the 3D telecast – why don’t you ask them. They know how many of their boxes tuned in from their actual subscriber back channel feeds
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To be fair to OzTam, with such low market penetration of 3D tvs, I can’t imagine any more than 5 people on their panel owning them. So even if they could measure audience figures, they’d be massively speculating at best.
And yes, the figure of 5 people is massive speculation on my part.
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I was just a shame the Socceroos only played in 2D.
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3D Porn? Better keep your raincoat on…
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6000 of the 8000 sets sold out. given that every TV needs the special glasses and you get 2 pairs with each TV then the best the audience can be was 12,000.
A friend in the UK went to watch the Man Utd vs Arsenal game at his local pub. Said it was brilliant. Until Rooney hit a ball that came back off the bar and half the pub threw their drinks over their shoulders.
Looking forward to Grand Turismo 3D!!
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I wonder if this 3D fad is gonna catch on mainstream and if it does how long will it be before they come up with the statistics showing its harmfull to people.
I watched Avatar at the cinemas and the 3D made me dizzy and disoriented. I had to take out my glasses few times and close my eyes just to get back to a natural balance and avoid vomiting on the couple in front of me.
I may be one of the few people this has happened to so 2D all the way for me.
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I recorded it to my IQ2, purely so I’d have something to watch straight away if/when I buy a 3D TV.
But if I need the space it’ll be the first thing deleted.
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What’s the big deal Tim? No one even knows how many people really watch free to air!
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