The International 3D Society and 3D@Home Consortium hosted a series of 3D sessions that sent a message that 3D has arrived. Conversations included 3D coming to CE devices such as TVs and mobile devices (MasterImage’s Matt Liszt showed a tablet playing 3D content). Speakers asserted that 3D is not just for entertainment, citing as examples education and medical applications. And speakers shared their views on how 4K fits into the 3D dialogue.

Some of the comments from the sessions:

On dramatic series content: John Cassy of BSkyB reported that the company was experimenting with shooting 3D on a 2D schedule and not interfering with the 2D production. BSkyB is looking at shows that are “loved in 2D.” But the company is not looking to produce a lot of this content just yet, as it is getting scripted 3D content from Hollywood “so we are not looking to compete… We’d love to see U.S. studios do more, though we understand that there needs to be a return on investment.”

Cassy on sports production: “Sport is one of BSkyB’s big drivers for 3D.” How feasible is to produce 3D 4K sports? BSkyB doesn’t know yet. It is still learning and asking questions about the potential investments in infrastructure that might be needed.

Tom Cosgrove of 3net: “4K s coming; it makes 3D look that much better… We look at 4K [production] as a way to future proof our content.”

Bryan Burns of ESPN: “By the time we get [to 4K] we will be on to 8K or whatever. I don’t want to make the capital investment [in 4K]… There might be a gradual evolution. We are experimenting with a 4K camera [to blow up images to create close ups]… I don’t see us heading to 4K production or an ESPN 4K channel.”

DreamWorks Animation’s Jim Mainard: “Content makers have to do more to accelerate the (3D) curve.”

3ality Technica CEO Steve Scklair: “Things are slow in the U.S. I think advertising is holding it back. There has to be a business case.”

Several speakers said they don’t believe glasses are as much of a hindrance to 3D in the home as some might suggest. Still, autostereo is on the way.

StereoD converted “Jurassic Park” to 3D; the film will be released in April. A trailer for the 3D version was played at the event.

According to International 3D Society president Jim Chabin, 2012 was another strong year for 3D at the box office, with five of the top 10 films of the year being released in 3D.

According to figures from the Society:

• Of the domestic $10.8 billion box office, more than $2.5 billion came from 3D movies.
• More than 50 movies will be released in 3D during 2013, including “Man of Steel,” “Jack the Giant Slayer,” “Star Trek Into Darkness,” “The Great Gatsby,” and a 3D version of “Jurassic Park.”
• Ten 3D networks are planned and mandated by the Chinese government. One 3D network is on the air now, and nine more are mandated within 5 years.
• More than 40 TV networks and/or programming services are available worldwide.
• YouTube 3D offers 20,000 3D videos.