No 3D Super Bowl Again: 4 Reasons Why

I don’t know where to begin with the idiocy posted here.  First, NBC is broadcasting the game not Fox.  Second, ABC and ESPN think 3D is for blu-ray movies???  I guess they don’t realize they’re airing 24/7 3D sports broadcasts on ESPN 3D.

I know the internet is full of dopes spouting nonsense, but there has to be someone associated with this site that knows the basic facts around 3D sports broadcasts.

@Wow—Thanks for catching my brain fog on NBC broadcasting the game. I corrected it, but you are dead wrong on ABC and ESPN’s “commitment” to 3D. The 3D sports offerings on those channels are very limited compared to the amount of 3D Blu-ray content parent company Disney is cranking out.

“even Disney-owned ABC and ESPN have concluded that 3D is for watching Blu-ray movies in home theaters, not television programming”

How can you say that ABC and ESPN have concluded that 3D is not for television programming?  They have a 24/7 3D broadcast on television.  College basketball, college football, NBA basketball, The Masters, Wimbledon, boxing, MLB baseball and even ESPN studio shows have all been broadcast in 3D by ABC/ESPN on television.  That doesn’t count as television programming in your world?  I’m curious what you would consider television programming if all of that doesn’t count.

You forgot the most influential reasons of all “MONEY & technology”  Will the network attract more viewers because they are offering 3D?  NO, they have exclusive rights; so everyone that is interested in watching is stuck with whatever they broadcast, so why should they bother?  However, If they offered it as a 3D pay-per view event they would have themselves a money magnet.  All the people who have a 3D TV;  whom have already shown they have disposable income, are looking for an opportunity to show it off.  Problem is most providers don’t have the technology to provide1080p 3D content due to bandwidth issues.  These are the real reasons, especially money, not the impudent reasons you suggest, THINK about it.

100% with @wow - this is a horrible “article” or blog post or whatever this thing is, seriously.  I don’t post comments on news articles but this one pushed me to it.  Jason Knott, you really shouldn’t post something like this until you’ve done more thorough research. You don’t even mention the fact that ESPN (for example) is pioneering in its 3D efforts with dedicated programming.  It’s irresponsible for you to state your ill-researched conclusions for the masses to read as if you have some authority on this.  Your downfall is that your post is ranked high on Google for the search term “superbowl commercials in 3d?”  I was looking for an *educated* report on this, not someone blathering online because he can.  With all respect, please be more careful when producing online content in the future.  I don’t knock your credentials but this post was a mistake.

@wow and @what—I appreciate your opinions and you are correct that ESPN is “pioneering” 3D, but in the greater context outside of just the myopic sports world, there has undeniably been a far-greater marketing push for 3D home theater viewing for theatrical release Blu-rays vs. sports programming.  Even ESPN took issue with this blog, shooting me an email outlining the depth of its sports programming but in my opinion Disney still has a greater focus on 3D movies/Blu-rays. Remember when we all thought 3D sports programming was going to be the “killer app” to boost sales of 3D TVs? What happened?

Fair enough, but I think the underlying point is that just because bluray has significant focus, perhaps even moreso than sports programming, it by no means follows that 3d sports is dead, and there is no “conclusion” that bluray is the only place where it’s at.  It’s not all or nothing, so some of the logic presented in your post just seems to have been quickly submitted.  I appreciate the brevity of the post but you made a bit too much of a sweeping assessment, hence the pushback.  A more thorough review prior to posting would have been good.  Not surprised ESPN reached out.  Anyway, thanks at least for taking on the topic, I did learn a few things anyhow… and it’s great that you respond to comments, so +1 there.

There will be upwards of 130 million people watching the Super Bowl this year, the most ever, according to media experts. For there to be no 3D aspect at all, not even a theater for people to watch it in 3D, is an indictment on the lack of interest in 3D TV programming. There is no better time for broadcasters to push 3D than the Super Bowl.

So far only Clear Thinker has posted the real reason 3D is not at the Super Bowl, it’s Money!  It’s amazing that all the others commenting can’t see it.  It’s not a lack of interest in 3D that’s keeping broadcasters from it.  It’s the Networks inability to monetizing 3D that is the real problem.  Believe me, they would totally LOVE 3D if they could make a buck off it.

For those who may think 3D sports are going to keep 3D alive for broadcasters, you may want to think again. If it can’t be monetized beyond a couple 3D channels on cable; that people are willing to pay extra for, it’s dead!  The on;y thing that might save it as I see it is if advertisers were to start demanding the ability to broadcast 3D ads.

Why should Networks bother if all it will ever do is cost extra money for production & broadcast?  Are they in the business of losing money?

@Bill Corning:

You’re missing the basic concept of innovation and investment in R&D.  If businesses thought like you did, we’d still be riding horses & buggies.

It’s not dead - it’s just not as out front as BluRay is.  It’s developing.

Full disclosure, I am an ESPN PR employee and wanted to reiterate our committment to 3D, having produced more than 190 3D events since the launch of ESPN 3D in June 2010.  It is an ambitious undertaking for a new technology and we are outpacing many broadcasters’ early efforts in HD.

Currently, ESPN 3D is available to 60 million homes through operators that include Comcast and Time Warner Cable.  The network operates 24/7 with a robust slate of live programming as well as re-airs of our most popular content. Last week we produced 25 hours of live content from Winter X Games. This week we have college basketball from Kansas and Missouri as well as our popular College GameDay show in 3D.

I’d also point to comments made earlier this week by ESPN President John Skipper, which outline our approach to 3D moving forward:

http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2012/01/31/more-3d-coming-to-espn/

Thank you.

The biggest thing to stunt the growth of 3D was the lousy movies Hollywood released in 2011.

ESPN and CBS have been the biggest proponents of 3D sports broadcasts, but I think it’s important that ESPN broadcast its Monday Night Football schedule in 3D because that’s the network’s biggest programming property. College basketball and the NBA combined don’t have the reach of the NFL and I think the only way for ESPN to get its investment back into 3D is to use its best product to grow the market.

As for the Super Bowl I don’t believe NBC has done any 3D broadcasts so it’s not surprising that the game isn’t being shown in 3D.

This Sucks that it won’t be televised in 3D.
How would you know if you don’t televise the SUPERBOWL. I watched the ACC Champioship game on ESPN and it was remarkable. Unbelievable telecast in 3D. Football with the camera that runs on the cable goes straight in the huddle. Remarkable. Please televise more sports in 3D. Give it a chance. More options. what the problem is they need the camera to be able to convert to 2D. right now they use 3D camera and 2D camera. I don’t understand why it can’t convert in the Engineers truck. Please give it a chance.

I am watching the Super Bowl in 3D. I own a Samsung Series 8-55 inch LED with Samsung’s patented 2D-3D conversion. Cool is cool.
I got 4 pair of glasses free also and a Blue Ray. Use your income tax unwisely and buy one folks.

I’m disappointed the biggest football game won’t be in 3D.  Ops, the biggest football game was televised in 3D.  The BCS Championship!!  Also, the Masters are already advertising they will be in 3D.  I guess the NFL doesn’t rate.  The four reasons above don’t wash.