With the movie Avatar bringing in more than a billion dollars since it opened just three weeks ago, it seems like 3D is about to have a renaissance.Yes, not since viewers of Jaws 3D enjoyed dismembered limbs seemingly floating inches in front of their face, have the entertainment possibilities of 3D seemed so full of promise. And it's about to get a lot more awesome, as ESPN 3D is just around the corner.
The network has announced that, beginning on June 11th, they'll air a wide variety of sports events that will be viewable on your home TV, in 3D. The first game to air on ESPN 3D will be the first match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, between South Africa and Mexico.
A total of 85 live sporting events are scheduled to air using the new technology in the first year, including the 2011 BCS National Championship Game, the Summer X Games, college football and basketball games and 25 other World Cup matches.
According to current reports, one event that ESPN doesn't yet plan to air in 3D is the World Series of Poker. And really, can you blame them? I'm not saying the action at the WSOP is boring. But a close-up of Phil Ivey sitting in a chair isn't going to benefit from 3D technology quite as much as, say, a shot of some hotshot wide receiver making a diving grab right into the camera. Not to mention the fact that most of us don't really want an even better look at Phil Helmuth.
Oh, and so far it's unclear whether the 3D programming will be available on all TVs, or only specially equipped ones. And, the even bigger question... will viewers all have to wear those glasses?
