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RIP 3D TV

The last two holdouts, LG and SONY, will stop producing 3D television sets in 2017.

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In news that will surprise almost nobody, it was confirmed recently that LG and SONY would stop producing 3D television sets in 2017.

Both were the last two manufacturers of 3D sets after Samsung dropped 3D support in 2016, Vizio hasn’t offered it since 2013 and other smaller names, like Sharp, TCL and Hisense, also failed to announce any 3D-capable TVs at CES 2017.

“3D capability was never really universally embraced in the industry for home use, and it’s just not a key buying factor when selecting a new TV,” LG’s Tim Alessi, director of new product development told CNET. “Purchase process research showed it’s not a top buying consideration, and anecdotal information indicated that actual usage was not high. We decided to drop 3D support for 2017 in order to focus our efforts on new capabilities such as HDR, which has much more universal appeal.”

While 3D was touted as a revolution for sport and documentaries in particular, the writing was always on the wall with minimal 3D content being produced.

BBC announced it would take a three-year break from developing 3D programming at the end of 2013. Foxtel closed its 3D channel the same year. Disney-owned ESPN also stopped producing in 3D in 2013.

While networks and manufacturers were trumpeting the brilliance of 3D, viewers just kept giving them another message: just give us everything in HD, thanks.

Ultimately 3D was a novelty just as it was when we saw it in the 1970s with red and blue glasses watching The Three Stooges.

So that just leaves HbbTV as the next novelty to go….

13 Responses

  2. 3D was always likely to receive a lukewarm reception because it required active or passive glasses to view. Some research was put into creating 3D without using glasses but was panned by videophiles. OLED provided the best 3D option for those enthusiasts able to afford it but that will be gone too. Projectors will keep some 3D function but I’m not sure for how long.

  3. I went to someone’s house where they have an LG 3DTV. Back in the days, I remembered where I was able to watch the 2012 Olympics in 3d on ch 95 and ch 40 & was good.

    1. Yes, Freeview is the HbbTV platform in Australia and NZ. It would likely be more useful it allowed viewers better access to overseas services without the need for a VPN. Unfortunately for obvious commercial reasons that will never happen.

  5. I see they make TVs with Android now which is far more useful than 3D. I have an Android TV box but I couldn’t live without it (well, living in Asia as I do).

  6. Not quite sure how HbbTV is a ‘novelty’. People might not know it by name, but for many, it’s the only technology allowing them to access catch-up services through the television set.

  8. Well that royally sucks considering that 3D Blu-rays are still being produced (though it’s an extremely niche market and there are relatively few 3D Blu-rays available). The PlayStation 3 also supports 3D gaming (though I’m not sure whether PS4 does), so it’s a touch baffling that Sony of all companies would be abandoning it altogether as they’ve continued to produce content worth having a 3D TV for.

  9. I love watching 3D bluray movies on my TV. Guess I won’t be updating to a new model till this one dies.
    Was never interested in watching sport in 3D but movies are great.

  10. One good thing that 3DTVs did do was increase the quality of the components. They were generally better than a non-3DTV for the same price, and even low end TVs had a boost in quality level just by including it. A new default was established that hopefully won’t be lost now it’s abandoned.

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