Brits blasé about 3D TV 'fad'
Survey suggest very few early adopters
Brits may have been wowed by Avatar but James Cameron's 3D epic hasn't persuaded them to buy a 3D TV no matter what, research has revealed.
Around 3000 punters were polled this month by shopping website Vouchercodes.co.uk but only 1.4 per cent of them - 42 people - said they were willing to stump up the £2000 the first 3D TVs are expected to cost.
More than half of those surveyed - 53 per cent - said they would only be willing to spend no more than £499 for a 3D TV - a quarter of the current asking price.
When asked what, above all else, might persuade them to buy a 3D TV, 43 per cent of respondents pointed to movies, with 12 per cent picking nature programmes and 11 per cent wanting to watch football in 3D.
Why might they not buy? Because it's a just a fad, 19 per cent said, while just over a quarter of those polled said they were happy watching standard, two-dimensional telly. Two-thirds of those surveyed admitted they feel they'll look silly wearing 3D specs at home.
That's good news for Nintendo, at least, which has said the next incarnation of its DS handheld console will do 3D without the need for special glasses.
Sky kicks off its pubs-only live 3D football channel next month. ®
COMMENTS
Some things work as they are
We've always had sculpture and we've always had paintings. Theatre is usually less successful in the round than it is behind a proscenium arch. Avatar worked, on the whole, because its 3D was at the service of the story, rather than (in old 3D films) actions being taken (objects thrown at the camera) for the sake of the technology. So it might be that 3D TV, as a default, never takes over, as people won't wear special glasses every time they sit to watch, and because 3D enhances only the visual part of a story -- it doesn't help a weak plot, second-rate acting or poor direction -- and why go to any trouble at all if it doesn't bring benefit? I could imagine putting on the special specs for a special show, in the same spirit that I put on Brahms with my surround-sound but listen to my radio on a cheap little set int he kitchen.
Two grand for 3-d telly?
I wouldn't give two quid - it's a pointless and unconvincing fake that - Avatar notwithstanding - hasn't changed in any fundamental way since the stereoscopes of the 1880s. It was a fad then; it was a fad in the fifties, it was a fad in the seventies, and it's a fad today.
When they come up with a true 3-d - something that doesn't require silly glasses, allows the user to set his own focus point, and more significantly, lets you see even partially behind things - then I might have an interest. Until then, can't be bothered... must be thirty years in broadcast engineering affecting my judgement.
Brits blase about 3d TV?
That shows they have more smarts than a lot of others. Here's to you!
3D TV - will it take off?
I'm studying for a Master's in DIT Dublin. It's about 3D technology and how people respond to it.
I'd really appreciate it posters could follow the link below and complete the survey, (copy and paste to your browser). It only takes about 5 minutes.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XNQ2ZXV
The survey takes about 5-6 minutes max, and is designed to capture opinion about this technology. As I can see from the postings here, opinion seems to be divided. . The survey is totally anonymous, and is being used for a college project, not to target consumers!
Thank you in advance for your help.
