The Super Bowl Won't Be Broadcast in 3D?

There has recently been some news that was released that might have quite a few football fans disappointed. If you were getting excited about seeing the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steeler’s Super Bowl showdown on February 6 on a 3D TV, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but that won’t be happening. Super Bowl XLV will not be broadcast in 3D.

Consumer Reports have confirmed that Fox Sports, the executive rights holder of the Super Bowl game this year, will not be offering viewers the opportunity to watch the big game in 3D. So don’t plan on running out and buying a 3D TV for the game, unless you simply want a new TV for the Super Bowl and happen to want 3D as well.

So, why is Fox not broadcasting the biggest game of the year in 3D? Well, honestly, it’s really not a huge surprise. Over the past year, there has definitely been a low adoption rate of 3D HDTVs. That low adoption rate is really one of Fox Sports main reasons for not broadcasting the game in 3D. The network stated, "Unfortunately, given current levels of adoption, there is no business model that makes sense for producing a show as complex as the Super Bowl in 3D at this time. 3D requires an entirely separate production at significant expense without generating incremental revenue to offset the additional costs. We prefer to focus all our energy on doing the best possible HD production possible, which this year features more than 40 cameras," said the network.

In the past year more than a million 3D HDTVs were sold, which wasn’t as many as the TV industry had hoped, but it still shows that 3D is definitely beginning to integrate itself into the home. 3D is an industry that continues to expand. In 2010 there were a lot of very successful 3D movies in theaters including Toy Story 3 and Alice and Wonderland. In 2011 there will be at least 16 3D films in theater, and most, if not all of them, should be released on DVD in 3D as well. TV channels are also slowly beginning to broadcast in 3D. As of February 14, ESPN 3D will begin broadcasting 24/7 in 3D.

Fox Sports obviously didn’t feel that broadcasting Super Bowl XLV in 3D was important or profitable enough, but you can’t help but wonder if things might be different if ESPN had gotten the broadcasting rights. Oh well, I guess we will never know.

So, no you can’t watch the big game in 3D, but if you’re still looking for a 3D TV, here are a few of the top 3D HDTVs available.

Panasonic TC-P54VT25
$2,795 from Amazon.com

Panasonic offers a variety of different features with the TC-P54VT25. It has an incredibly vibrant display and offers very realistic 3D and 2D images. The only thing that I can really be critical about when it comes to this 3D HDTV is that there is no 2D to 3D conversion, but besides that, it is an excellent option.

LG 55LX9500
$3,399 from Amazon.com

LG created a masterpiece when it comes to the 55LX9500. It is incredibly thin and has excellent picture quality. The problem with the 3D TV by LG is that it doesn’t come with a pair of active shutter glasses, which really stinks. Another issue is that it is very expensive, but if you can get around that, it is a wonderful choice.

Sony XBR-60LX900
$4,249 from Amazon.com

Sony’s XBR-60LX900 3D HDTV is a fantastic TV. It offers excellent SD and HD content display, as well as having very nice 3D effects. It also is extremely thin and quite chic. The issue is that like the LG 55LX9500, the XBR-60LX900 is very pricey and may simply be too expensive for buyers.

Samsung UN55C9000
$3,499 from Amazon.com

The UN55C9000 3D TV from Samsung is a great TV. It is incredibly thin and light for a 55-inch TV. The issue with the TV is that the 3D images simply are not as immersive as were expected, but it’s still a fantastic option if you’re looking for a 3D TV.

It’s kind of disappointing that the Packers and the Steelers big game won’t be available in 3D, but even though you won’t need a 3D TV for the game, that doesn’t mean you should put off looking for one if you’ve been thinking about making the jump to 3D. These four 3D HDTVs are the top of the line. They are some great options that you should definitely look into.

Samsung's First 3D Compatible LED TV

The world is now being introduced to Samsung's first ever 3D compatible television series, the PNC7000 Plasmas. This series has just recently been released and is one of several 3D capable TVs that were announced this year at CES 2010. As the least expensive plasma TV released in 2010 to feature 3D compatibility, the PNC7000 is perfect for people who want a plasma TV and are looking for a good deal.

Samsung is offering the PNC7000 in three different sizes: 50 inches, 58 inches, and 63 inches. All three TVs are identical in every way apart from the size. The PNC7000 has one of the best appearances of any television released so far in 2010. It is both sleek and modern. It features a dark gray bezel with a matte finish and has Samsung's signature transparent stalk and frame edge to increase the appeal. It sits on a fantastic stainless-steel base that swivels very nicely. The PNC7000 is also the thinnest among its competitors at an amazing 1.4 inches thick.

The PNC7000 remote is a nice size and shape, easy to use, and features standard, raised buttons. There are a total of 49 button, and 44 of them are backlit, which is a convenient feature. Fortunately, Samsung has done away with the fingerprint-prone finish from last year's remote style and replaced it with a finish that will be much easier to keep clean.

Now due to the fact that the PNC7000 is so incredible thin, the jack pack placement on it may seem a little odd at first, but after spending a little time with it, it shouldn’t be a problem. On the back of the TV, there is a horizontal and a vertical row of jacks that are arranged so the cables run parallel to the panel, instead of plugging in perpendicular. The PNC7000 has a variety of different jacks including: 4 HDMI inputs, 1 composite video input, 1 VGA-style PC input, 1 AV output, 2 USB ports, 1 component video input, 1 RF input, a Digital audio output, and a Ethernet (LAN) port.

The PNC7000 offers the best set of media streaming in TV today. It comes equipped with Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, Vudu video, CinemaNow, Blockbuster, YouTube, Pandora, Hulu Plus, and more. Dailymotion, CinemaNow and Blockbuster are not found on other TVs and Hulu Plus is exclusive only to Samsung.

Like the media streaming on the PNC7000, the apps are also top notch. Samsung has worked hard to create a fabulous app platform. It’s no Apple Store but they really have done a great job. In addition to Apps within the main interface, there's a separate Yahoo widgets interface with 19 total add-ons available. There’s weather, news, sports, and widgets like Drivecast, Flickr, and Facebook.

So now let’s talk about the feature that is drawing so much attention towards this TV, the 3D capability. The PNC7000 is compatible with multiple 3D standards, including FullHD, BluRay, and Half Standard. The 3D on this television is brilliant. It is much better than the 3D on an LCD TV. The PNC7000's 3D capabilities truly make it standout from the competition. The downside is that it doesn’t come with the 3D glasses necessary for the 3D to be effective. The glasses themselves are $150 a pair, but considering the PNC7000 is one of the less pricey 3D televisions out there, it leaves more money in the budget to purchase the glasses. This TV also features a bonus that most of its competitors lack, a 2D to 3D converter. This feature can definitely come in handy.

Overall, the PNC7000 provides excellent picture quality in 2D as well. It has deep black levels and relatively accurate color. It lacks the 1080p/24 processing, inky blacks, and spot-on color of some high-end TVs, but it’s not really a big issue. The PNC7000 really delivers in the areas where it counts.

3D is a very interesting and fun quality that people are beginning to consider when they think of purchasing a new television. What people don’t realize are all the extra things you have to purchase in order to make the 3D work to the best of its ability. So before you go rushing out to buy your first 3D TV, you should consider everything that you will need to make it work the way that you imagine it. First off, you will need a 3D television receiver. If you don’t have Direct TV, you will most likely be switching over to it since it’s the only provider offering 3D service at this time. Your next purchase will be a 3D BluRay player so your movies can be watched in 3D as well. Then of course there’s the 3D glasses at about a $150 a pair and the must have $100 Wi-Fi hook-up. With all the extra equipment you need you’re going to have to factor in a few extra hundred dollars plus the price of the TV.

So, if you feel that, even after hearing about all the additional purchases you will have to make, that a 3D TV is right for you, the PNC7000 is an excellent choice. Not only does it have a great 2D performance, but the Samsung PNC7000 series plasma also delivers 3D for less than the competition with its price ranging from $1,419.00 to $2,699.98, depending on the size you select.

Not sure exactly what you should be looking for in a TV? Check out our guide to buying your next TV.

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