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If you recently bought one of the first 3D TVs on the market and are growing tired of watching Monsters vs. Aliens 3D for the umpteenth time, relief is on the way: DirecTV says that in addition to its own 3D channels, it will offer ESPN's new 3D channel for free to ESPN subscribers.
ESPN 3D will kick off its 3D sports programming, which will air at least 85 live 3D events during its first year, on June 11 with the FIFA World Cup match between Mexico and South Africa. Other planned 3D broadcasts include various college football and basketball championship games, some NBA games, and X Games 16. ESPN 3D will be free for DirecTV customers who subscribe to ESPN.
DirecTV will also have three 3D channels of its own, including N3D, a channel launched in partnership with Panasonic that will offer 3D programs from an amalgam of content partners, including AEG (sports and music), CBS, Fox Sports/FSN, Golden Boy Promotions (boxing), HDNet, MTV, NBC Universal, and TBS. In addition to the N3D channel, DirecTV will have a 24/7 3D pay-per-view channel and an on-demand movie channel. All are expected to launch in June.
Remember that to view these programs, you'll need a new 3D TV, plus special 3D glasses. But because the satellite broadcaster will updating existing receivers—which use HDMI 1.3 connections—rather than shipping new ones with the newer HDMI 1.4 connections used in new 3D TVs and Blu-ray players, the shows will be shown in a lower "half resolution" rather the full 1080p you get with 3D Blu-ray titles. I'll be filing a separate blog on the way these upgraded satellite and cable receivers, and updated PlayStation 3 game consoles, will work with new 3D TVs, so check back soon.
–James K. Willcox
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