MMA, UFC An Avenue for 3D HD
December 4, 2008
Broadcasting & Cable has a bit of information on the nascent technology of 3D HD and what may be in its future as far as content offerings. One of the content leaders who would most likely spearhead the technology are the leaders in programming for pay per view:
Fox Sports may push live 3D HD sports closer to everyday reality with its plans to broadcast the BCS college football championship game in Miami, Fla. on Jan. 8 to 3D-equipped projection screens at the Consumer Electronics Shows in Las Vegas and select movie theaters across the country.
Fox’s 3D HD gambit, announced by Fox Sports Chairman David Hill at the 3-D Entertainment Summit in Los Angeles yesterday and reported by B&C sister publication Variety, is the second high-profile 3D HD sport event to be introduced in as many weeks.
Another possibility, say industry insiders, is for sports with established pay-per-view businesses, such as boxing, wrestling and mixed-martial arts, to adopt the technology.
There are high per event costs associated with offering the 3D HD content, and industry insiders see dedicated customers of these PPV stalwarts as a way to defray costs. Much the same is done now with an additional surcharge for the HD broadcast of UFC events, usually an additional $10.
It should also be interesting to see what role Mark Cuban and his HDNet channel play in offering the technology in relation to their HDNet Fights programming. I’m sure it wasn’t a coincidence that his Dallas Mavericks were one of the first sports programs offered in the new format. With both the UFC and Cuban as vehicles, MMA could very much be on the cutting edge of this new and exciting technology.
