New 3D Channels Launched By ESPN, Sony
Timed to capitalize on the expected interest in 3D television at this week's upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Sony, Discovery and Imax have announced their intent to jointly launch a 3D television channel. All three partners will own equal stakes in the channel which will be distributed by Discovery Communications starting in 2011.
ESPN, owned by the Walt Disney Company, has also joined the fray, announcing the launch of ESPN 3D in June of 2010. Though scheduled to launch first and bringing greatly desired sports programming to the 3D TV medium, ESPN will be facing off against content from a three-headed beast, with all three partners of the rival channel promoting their content individually as well as collectively.
The ESPN network will only operate for live events, while the Discovery/Sony/Imax venture will broadcast 3D progamming 24 hours a day. Both channels bring badly needed credibility to the format.
With the first strikes now launched, expect the 3D TV arms race to continue to build momentum.
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