Astra will demo ‘glasses free’ 3D at IBC
August 30, 2011
By Chris Forrester
Satellite broadcaster SES Astra is to demo iPONT’s glasses-free 3DTV system at IBC in Amsterdam. The object is to show delegates how close the industry is to ‘glasses free’ autostereoscopic 3D for broadcasting.
The demonstration aims to prove that without-glasses 3DTV technologies have reached a level of maturity and quality acceptable to the consumer market. “The quality of glasses-free 3DTV technologies have been hampered by viewing angles, depth, resolution and real-time imagery issues with few yet to deliver that premium-viewing experience,” explained Thomas Wrede, VP Reception Systems SES Astra. “iPONT’s maturing technology is an intriguing development and its progress has been impressive making us confident that glasses-free 3DTV for the home is going [to be] with us in the not too distant future.”
On the market realisation of glasses-free 3DTV, Tamas Vahl, global director iPONT International said: “Major TV operators know that for 3D to truly go mainstream glasses-free 3DTV needs to happen sooner rather than later. Once that conundrum is solved then it will make it easier for pay-TV operators to sell 3DTV to the consumer and to programme makers, which we expect to drive the next wave of top-tier HD programming.”
iPONT has already tested its system in a real-time conversion of BSkyB’s 3D programming (on May 28 using a Sky transmission of the UEFA Champions League final, and using a 65” autostereoscopic TV set).