Published:
21-Jul-08
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) is to develop mastering standards for 3D content in the home across all static platforms. As a first phase, the SMPTE is establishing a 3D Home Display Formats Task Force to define the parameters of a stereoscopic 3D mastering standard for the distribution of content via broadcast, cable, satellite, packaged media and the Internet, and the playback of content on TVs, computer monitors and other 'tethered' screens in the home. SMPTE is welcoming representatives from these sectors to participate in the task force's inaugural meeting which will take place in Los Angeles on 19 August. This meeting will feature demonstrations of existing 3D technologies and is open to non-SMPTE members.
The task force is scheduled to produce a report in six months time, identifying the issues and challenges for mastering 3D home entertainment content, minimum standards, and evaluation criteria. The SMPTE will then form a standards committee, which will use the report as a reference point as it endeavours to set mastering standards.
Our take...
The move is designed to address fragmentation in the embryonic phase of the 3D home entertainment business. There are currently a variety of different approaches to delivering 3D in the home and, having witnessed the impact of the battle between hi-def disc formats Blu-ray and HD DVD on the emerging market, the industry is keen to avoid another format war.
Where packaged media is concerned, the SMPTE has stressed that 3D home entertainment standards must be compatible with existing formats, as content owners will not contemplate the development of another physical format for 3D content. Indeed, the SMPTE announcement follows the DVD Forum's launch of a feasibility study in May 2008 to explore the possible incorporation of 3D technology into its format specifications for DVD.
Clearly, the industry recognises that home entertainment is vital to the development of a viable market for 3D movies. Whilst Screen Digest believes the incremental cost of making a movie in 3D could be recouped in cinemas through premium-priced tickets, a 3D movie business – like the traditional market – could not be sustained by theatrical revenues alone.
Screen Digest understands that specialist 3D productions do not translate as effectively to traditional 2D screens in cinemas, but particularly in the home. Viable 3D home entertainment solutions will enable content owners to maximise revenues across the movie value chain.
A uniform approach to 3D home entertainment remains some way off though, according to the SMPTE, which has estimated that it will take at least a year and a half to develop standards.
See
http://www.smpte.org for more information.
