14 DAY TRIAL // The 3D market may just be starting out, but ABI Research went ahead and studied current conditions and trends, to the point where it found that, due to such factors as 3D movie popularity and 3D gaming, 3D TV set sales will start to accelerate in 2013.
Apparently, the 3D TV market first needs to accumulate a base of devices, such as Blu-ray players and TVs, as well as, of course, content.
ABI Research believes this goal will be met within about two years, which means that 2013 will be the year when sales of such panels will start to accelerate.
“The 3D TV market is moving faster than expected,” notes industry analyst Michael Inouye.
“There was widespread skepticism that production models would be available so quickly. But by June this year many TV manufacturers had 3D models in their lineups. Most 3D TVs will be Internet-connected,” Inouye added.
There are both promising and not so promising aspects that may or may not influence the segment in either direction over the next few years.
For one, 3D movies are getting popular and so is 3D gaming, even though the latter is just in its beginning stages.
An inhibiting factor is that 3D films don't translate very well from the big to the small screen, and 3D solutions themselves are expensive.
“Unfortunately the 3D movie experience doesn’t always translate well to the smaller screen,” says Inouye.
“Some sports programming is also problematical: wide fields and big stadiums just don’t lend themselves to 3D,” he finished.
“Everything looks good in HD, but not everything looks better in 3D,” says digital home practice director Jason Blackwell.
“Content producers should be selective about what titles they assign to 3D production release,” he added.
Regardless, the research firm predicts that shipments of 3D TVs will near the 50 million mark in 2015.