3D TV and 3D Blu-ray Player Sales Top $55 Million

[TheDickWard]

The number that would be a lot more telling – considering that 3D televisions and Blu-ray players don't exclusively play 3D content – is how many people are actually using the 3D features. After all, a PlayStation 3 is a 3D capable Blu-ray player, but that doesn't mean the 3D is getting used.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/NPD_Gr...web4176414.htm

[3DYourTV]

I think most people need to realize that 3D technology is an ADD-ON to home entertainment. Just because you buy a 3D TV and 3D Blu-ray player doesn't mean you have to watch everything in 3D.

Of course, there is a premium on 3D-ready products, but that's how every new technology is introduced. If you don't want to be one of the first to experience 3D entertainment in your home, just wait for prices to drop and more content to be released.

As for the Playstation 3, we are still waiting for the firmware update to make it 3D Blu-ray capable. (the last firmware update allows for 3D gaming, though)

[Lee Stewart]

The number that would be a lot more telling – considering that 3D televisions and Blu-ray players don't exclusively play 3D content – is how many people are actually using the 3D features. After all, a PlayStation 3 is a 3D capable Blu-ray player, but that doesn't mean the 3D is getting used.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/NPD_Gr...web4176414.htm

Actually, the PS3 is not a 3D BD capable player. It has not received it's firmware upgrade to play 3D BDs. Only the upgrade to play 3D games - 4 of them - that Sony has released.

And the PS3 will only output 3D in the frame sequential format which means anyone with a DLP RPTV 3D ready HDTV from 2007 - 2009 can't use it as they depend on the 3D format checkerboard which the PS3 doesn't output.

[reidw]

Assuming $2,000 per TV that's only about 27,500 sets. If that is the figure for the world its really not very impressive. I suspect most are just replacement sets for people who needed a new TV. It doesn't indicate a ground swell for 3D itself. (How could it when there's no appreciable content yet?).

[Lee Stewart]

Assuming $2,000 per TV that's only about 27,500 sets. If that is the figure for the world its really not very impressive. I suspect most are just replacement sets for people who needed a new TV. It doesn't indicate a ground swell for 3D itself. (How could it when there's no appreciable content yet?).

That $55M is just for the USA. World wide, they have sold about 300,000 3DTVs of which Samsung is claiming they sold about 270,000 of them.

Keep in mind that the figure is for Mar. through May. There were only 2 CEMs selling 3DTVs; Panasonic and Samsung. In June Sony started selling their 3DTVs. In July, the new Mits and LG 3DTVs will hit retailers. Vizio has said Q4 and we know nothing of Toshiba's plans for 2010.

70% of TV sales happen in the fourth quarter of the year.

[reidw]

The problem here is that we may be being blinded by the perceived size of the numbers. $55 million sounds like a lot but it is about $1.1 Million for each of your states (I'm Canadian). Sticking with my $2,000 a set + glasses estimate that's 550 sets sold in each state. Hardly a landslide of sales. I'd also like to see some similar numbers on the sale of non-3D sets for the same period. That would give us a better indication of how good/bad 3D sales actually are. This press release reads more like hype to me.

[Lee Stewart]

The problem here is that we may be being blinded by the perceived size of the numbers. $55 million sounds like a lot but it is about $1.1 Million for each of your states (I'm Canadian). Sticking with my $2,000 a set + glasses estimate that's 550 sets sold in each state. Hardly a landslide of sales. I'd also like to see some similar numbers on the sale of non-3D sets for the same period. That would give us a better indication of how good/bad 3D sales actually are. This press release reads more like hype to me.

Why would you compare a brand new format, premium priced, limited availability televsion to an established, highy competitivly priced television made by at least a dozen CEMs?

What exactly are you expecting?

We all know that 3DTV sales in 2010 will be a very small percentage of total TV sales. That is normal for a brand new CE product, especially one that is expensive, has little content available and requires glasses which not all people will accept.

[reidw]

That last paragaph inadvertently says it all. Until those three problems are fixed 3D is going to be a novelty and nothing more. (Check back a year from now).

[Nissling]

I seriously don't want Blu-Ray 3D. Blu-Ray in 2D is enough for me, so I don't think I'll ever purchase a 3DTV och a 3D-compatible Blu-Ray player. But even if, I'm a bit surprised that other people are very interested in 3D.