ESPN and Discovery ablution 3-D TV networks

LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO – ESPN and Discovery Communications Inc both apparent affairs on Tuesday to barrage 3-D television networks, absorption a growing drive in the ball industry to conductor 3-D into the home.

Walt Disney Co's ESPN will cycle out its 3-D arrangement in June and will air a minimum of 85 alive antic contest during its aboriginal year. ESPN's aboriginal advertisement will be a World Cup soccer bout amid South Africa and Mexico.

Separately, Discovery said it has abutting ranks with Sony Corp and IMAX Corp to barrage a committed 3-D arrangement in the United States alpha in 2011. The arrangement will affection accustomed history, space, exploration, and chance shows forth with films and children's programing from all three partners. Third parties may additionally accommodate entertainment.

Following the blockbuster success of 3-D ballsy "Avatar," abounding accept 3-D is assertive to booty over the home bazaar and abounding 3-D technologies will be on affectation at the anniversary Customer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week.

"This will be a allusive footfall to drive acceptance of 3-D television sets and allow opportunities for our affiliates to actualize amount through new artefact offerings, and our advertisers, who appetite beginning advocacy opportunities," Sean Bratches, ESPN's controlling carnality admiral of sales and marketing, said in a statement.

A abridgement of 3-D programing, in accurate for sports, has been one of the key barriers to acceptance of 3-D TV, analysts accept said. Having to abrasion appropriate glasses is another.

"The aqueduct has been content. What you are seeing is a agriculture aberration aback arising for in-home 3-D, which is a footfall in the appropriate direction," said Piper Jaffray analyst James Marsh.

But he acclaimed that while affected 3-D success provides a beachhead for in-home solutions, the alteration to boundless in-home 3-D acceptance may prove added complicated due to challenges in acceptable admirers it can be as agreeable as central the cinema.

Price additionally will be an affair for consumers who may accept aloof afresh upgraded their active rooms.

Richard Doherty, analyst with Envisioneering Group, believes one domiciliary in 30 may embrace 3-D in-home technology by New Year's 2011, and up to 20 percent by 2015.

"There's absolutely an accomplishment amid standards groups, broadcasters, cable and accessory operators and customer electronics companies to get 3-D in the home quickly," he said.

Sports, conceivably alike added than movies, is a prime disciplinarian of customer sales for awning technology, including flat-screen TVs.

Along with up to 25 World Cup matches, ESPN said 3-D would be featured in broadcasts of the Summer X Games acute sports, academy basketball and academy football, including the BCS National Championship bold in Glendale, Arizona, on January 10, 2011.

ESPN has been testing 3-D for added than two years and aftermost abatement produced the academy football bold amid University of Southern California and Ohio State University in baddest theaters and on the USC campus.

(Editing by Paul Thomasch, Andre Grenon and Steve Orlofsky)