Ten boss Blackley suggests link-up with Seven and Nine for 3D channel
Ten boss Grant Blackley has suggested that the three major commercial TV players could come together to offer a single joint 3D channel.
Afetr expressing scepticism about the commercial viability of 3D because of the small number of consumers who currently have suitable TV sets, he said: “In defence of 3D, as an event channel, I think it’s wonderful. As an aggregated event channel… maybe the three broadcasters get together and we have a dedicated channel where we contribute. Because I think it’s cumbersome to have one broadcaster try and do it themselves.”
Ten also owns digital sports channel One.
So far, Nine has experimented with showing State Of Origin in 3D, while SBS has broadcast some World Cup games in 3D. All of the footage was on separate spectrum made available by the governemnt on a trial basis. On pay TV, Foxtel has also carried out its own trial 3D broadcasts.
Blackley said: “We don’t have the spectrum, we don’t have the critical mass, we have the costs. I don’t think that the level of content is going to live up to the expectation of the consumer.”
There is some precedent for the competing networks to work togerther. Along with News Ltd, Seven and Nine owner PBL Media are joint shareholders of Sky News Australia.
Blackley’s comments came in an interview with journalist Paul McIntyre for AdNews.
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In this case ‘3D’ would stand for ‘three dumbasses’: Seven, Nine and Ten. 3D is the laser disc of this decade.
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Not sure if you’re right Tim. With Sony, LG, Samsung, Pixar, Disney, Hollywood, Dolby, Panasonic, FIFA, FOX SPORTS, SBS – to name a few – getting right into 3D, I think it’s got a lot more legs than you give it credit. Laser disc was just dodgy technology, this Stereoscopic 3D (S3D) process has a lot more entertainment value. Quality content will drive this – the technology is getting pretty interesting.
I think this aggregation of a dedicated channel has real potential to become the event channel and whne the networks start fighting over the available time, then it’ll really move forward.
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