AccessIT to deliver live 3D broadcasts

http://www.screendigest.com/online_services/intelligence/cinema/updates/ci-080606-CJ/view.html#

 

Author/s -  Charlotte Jones

 

Published: 06-Jun-08

Leading d-cinema network AccessIT will bring live alternative programming to cinemas through its CineLive SM product starting 2008. AccessIT will initially introduce the technology, which will offer the live broadcast of events into cinemas in both 2D and 3D, in 50 sites in the US, with a later roll-out to 150 sites by end 2008. The CineLive concept was developed with International Datacasting Corporation and Sensio Technologies including an exclusive license agreement with AccessIT for the US market. The first installations will be deployed on AccessIT's satellite equipped, d-cinema screens from Phase 1 of its deployment initiative, comprising 3,700 screens, but will also expand (both its satellite network and CineLive product) to the second scheduled deployment phase on around 10,000 screens. The distribution of live 2D and 3D music and sports events will be handled by its alternative content division, The Bigger Picture.

 

Our take...

So far live 3D broadcasts have been limited to trial screenings, including several broadcasts of NBA games on large screens in the US, while In Europe, there have also been several screenings of live 3D sports broadcasts, including the Six Nations Rugby game between Scotland and England, a joint venture between BBC Sport and the3DFirm, a consortium comprising 3D specialists Inition and rental and post-production company Axis Films. More recently, Orange in collaboration with the International Tennis Federation, broadcast matches from the French Open Tennis in live 3D this month (June). However, there will, at least initially, be very few screens that are fully equipped to receive a live 3D broadcast, (requires a digital system, digital 3D upgrade and satellite dish) and therefore a limited release width for such content in a cinema environment. However, additional investment in the infrastructure that enables both live 2D and 3D transmissions underlines the growing interest surrounding the nascent alternative content market and potential incremental revenues that can be generated from d-cinema systems in a regular multiplex environment.