Consumer 3D TV Awareness At 80%: DEG

By Alan Wolf -- TWICE, 11/22/2010

Los Angeles - Consumer awareness of 3D-capable TVs has risen to more than 80 percent since March, the Digital Entertainment Group (DEG) reported.

According to research from the Hollywood-based trade group, awareness of Blu-ray 3D players has also increased, to nearly 60 percent of consumers, over the same period.

Thirty-percent of the more than 5 million HDTVs expected to be sold between now and mid-January will be 3D-capable, DEG said, and 80 percent of consumers intending to buy a 3D TV would also purchase a Blu-ray 3D player, the research showed.

The DEG also cited data from U.K.-based FutureSource Consulting showing that U.S. 3D TV sales are on track to comprise 4.5 percent of all flat-panel TVs sold this year.

"The stars are aligning for home 3D this holiday season," said Kris Brown, worldwide high-def market expansion VP for Warner Home Video and chair of the DEG's 3D Working Group.

3DTVs are selling at a faster clip than HDTV in their debut period, he said, and nearly 40 Blu-ray 3D titles will be available at retail by the end of the year, making 3D hardware a doorbuster item for Black Friday.

The titles, along with a number of 3D broadcast channels and an estimated 25 upcoming 3D video games, represent more than 1,000 hours of 3D programming that will be available over the next 12 months, the DEG said.