Will Adult Entertainment Influence 3D TV Movement?

CE Pro tries to stay on top of video trends – even when they involve the seamier side of entertainment.

This year, however, I was unable to attend the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo (AEE), which is usually held at the same time as CES. I am somewhat known in CE circles for being the one who broke the porn-goes-Blu-ray story. And then there were the interviews with the actors who talked about being filmed in HD.

But I haven’t gotten around to exploring the porn industry’s impact on the 3D TV movement, so I defer to press releases for the news.

The potential of 3D in adult entertainment was illustrated decades ago by a soft-core 3D film “The Stewardess.” That flick raked in $27 million in theaters during the two years after its 1969 release, according to Lance Johnson of Bad Girls in 3D.

During AEE 2010, which just concluded in Las Vegas, Johnson’s company unveiled a turnkey digital 3D viewing system ($3,999) and an online video library that costs $20 per month to subscribe.

The 3D kit includes:

• Mitsubishi WD-60735 60-inch DLP HDTV
• M350 Universal Mini-ITX computer with 1080p support
• HDMI cable
• XpanD X102 (DLP-Link) glasses (2 pairs)
• Demo content
• 3D playback software with DRM
• X-batteries (10-pack)

Mitsubishi probably has more “3D-ready” TV sets deployed in the marketplace than any other TV manufacturer. Because it does not have 3D processing and syncing capabilities on board, it requires an external box such as the Mini-ITX included with the Bad Girls kit.

Of course, users easily can assemble their own 3D TV kits, the likes of which are demonstrated in many specialty A/V showrooms across the country.

It has long been suggested that the wildly influential porn industry was responsible for the triumph of VHS over Betamax many years ago. The industry also was seen to influence the HD DVD vs. Blu-ray battle more recently. In the end, though, adult entertainment followed the lead of major Hollywood studios.

Similarly, the adult entertainment industry is unlikely to have an impact on 3D technology itself, but could very well hasten the adoption of 3D TVs in the home.

As for Bad Girls in 3D:

We feel our content and delivery system creates a virtual voyeuristic and participatory reaction from viewers,” said Johnson.

The available Bad Girls in 3D material currently includes solo girl and boy/girl scenes but the company plans to expand its content to satisfy a variety of tastes particularly for the European and Asian markets.

“We are aiming to create an intriguing immersive reality for all of our customers,” stated Johnson.