One in five TVs sold in 2013 will be 3D-capable, says report

by Pete Mason on 29 June 2010, 22:20

Ready for 3D?

Market research firm In-Stat has released its projections for the future of the consumer electronics market over the next few years and unsurprisingly it thinks that 3D TV is the way forward. In fact, the report suggests that, by 2013, one in every five TVs purchased in the US will be 3D-capable.

According Stephanie Ethier, senior analyst on the report, “High definition did create a wave of activity in the US market, not seen since the introduction of color [and] 3DTV promises to be the next significant innovation wave for living room entertainment.”

Credit: Sony

Considering the barrage of adverts for 3D TVs, the numerous films being released in 3D and the push to have major sporting events captured in 3D, no one should be too surprised that in a few years, a good number of us will be buying 3D-capable TVs. Equally, though, that level of consumer adoption is pretty impressive, considering that such TVs only came onto the market this year. In-Stat is predicting 231 per cent year-on-year growth, which will certainly be impressive if it comes to bear.

The report goes on to predict that e-reader and tablet PC sales will soar, while MP3 player, handheld console and desktop PC sales will begin or continue to decline. However, if you’re reading this, you probably didn’t need a lengthy market research report to tell you that.

So is 3D really the future? Have you been blown away by a 3D film, or did it just make you queasy? We think it will depend on content, and considering how much content isn’t even broadcast in HD yet, we reckon it may be a little early to make the call either way. 3D Blu-ray might be the biggest draw, but current owners may feel burnt if their older players aren’t compatible. While we wait for the future, let us know your thoughts in the community.

Link: press release.

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Well, the report actually said, according to the text, "one in every five TVs purchased in the US will be 3D-capable.“

I'd also like to know how they define ”capable“?

If, as I said once before, a set is ”capable" and that capability doesn't add (significantly) to the cost, then I'd go along with that prediction. But personally, I'm far from convinced that 3D will ever (short of a radical break and 25th century holographic technology) be much of a driver for new TVs.

So my view is that it depends if both capable and non-capable sets are available, and what the price differential will be.

Personally, I don't give a flying fig for 3D, and if I ever buy a 3D capable set, it'll be because it's the set I decided on and it happened to be 3D capable, and that capability won't have any impact on the buying decision whatsoever.

Do I believe that people will be buying sets (in those sorts of volumes) for the 3D capability? Nope. Will they be buying “capable” sets? Maybe.

A lot of people have bought new sets to get flat panel, and a lot have bought again to get HD ready or TrueHD (or whatever the marketing speak currently is), and therefore virtually the entire population has a relatively set, and most (except enthusiasts) aren't going to get bounced into yet another technological advance requiring a new set unless that advance is overwhelmingly convincing. And, for my money, 3D isn't.

Of course, I could be wrong. But I wonder who commissioned that marketing survey? Manufacturers of 3D capable TVs, perhaps?

Capable, so they're not 100% sure; 1-in-5, 3 years, so its possible. Its like the early adopters of HD-ready televisions, by the time HD content became widespread the majority of these television owners realise that HD-ready isn't the same as Full-HD.

Looks to me like this is the new hot thing that manufacturers are trying to push on us.

format
Looks to me like this is the new hot thing that manufacturers are trying to push on us.

Of course it is:
1) Minimum increase in manufacturing cost
2) Ability to charge premium price
3) Chance that those who already have a fairly new TV will buy again

It's a trick that's been used several times in the past, it looked as if people got wise with BlueRay (re-buy all your old movies), I wonder if people will stay smart this time around ?

ecat
It's a trick that's been used several times in the past, it looked as if people got wise with BlueRay (re-buy all your old movies), I wonder if people will stay smart this time around ?

A lot of folks I know basically went “meh” when BR turned up - mainly because if you looked in Comet, Curry's, etc then there wasn't a heck of a lot of difference in quality - it wasn't “gee wow, that's like going from VHS to DVD!”. Plus - of course - the small matter of BR=£15+, DVD=£10. :rolleyes:

Saracen
A lot of people have bought new sets to get flat panel, and a lot have bought again to get HD ready or TrueHD (or whatever the marketing speak currently is), and therefore virtually the entire population has a relatively new set, and most (except enthusiasts) aren't going to get bounced into yet another technological advance requiring a new set unless that advance is overwhelmingly convincing. And, for my money, 3D isn't.

Agree totally with what you're saying in your whole post (not just the fragment I've quoted). Is it just me, or is there an air of desperation from the manufacturers? ;)

Then again, I'm a hopeless old curmudgeon - I'm not particularly impressed with the internet-enablement either. Like you, if the set I get to replace my old CRT is “3D ready” then fine, but that's a “oh, that's nice” rather than a “oo, I've got to have that” in my book. Certainly way down the list behind looks, picture quality, refresh rate, et al. (Looking for a 32" with superb picture quality, good sound, 100Hz refresh or better and a thin/unobtrusive bezel)

Shame that no-one seems to do an ‘upgradeable’ set - basically a high-quality, but dumb panel, that you could slot different modules into. Naive I know…

Bob

One in five TVs sold in 2013 will be 3D-capable, says report

Ready for 3D?

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