Shaw to be 3D provider for The Masters (Bell TV too for rounds 3 & 4)

[jaazzman]

Canada’s largest cable provider, Shaw Cable this week announced it would be the first broadcast distributor in Canada to offer 3D-HD content to its subscribers.
The cable giant said it would offer up limited coverage of the 2010 Masters Tournament in stereoscopic 3D to any Shaw subscriber with a 3DTV, special 3D glasses and a Shaw HD cable set top box.

Nice to see 3D TV programming is on its way to Canada already. I'm actually quite surprised.

[Ken H]

From Broadcasting & Cable

Comcast Details Masters 3D Plans

Gives demo of live feed from Augusta

By Glen Dickson

Comcast gave New York media a preview of what 3D coverage of The Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club will look like next week, simulating a live feed by transmitting 3D test footage from Augusta across its fiber network and delivering it through Motorola HD set-tops to LG and Sony consumer 3D sets.

The demonstration was designed to replicate the transmission path Comcast will use next week to deliver the 3D coverage to HD customers who have bought a new 3D-capable set, said Comcast Senior VP Mark Hess, as well as to package it to other operators that will carry the Masters 3D feed including Time Warner Cable, Cox, Cablevision and Canadian operator Shaw. Comcast was playing the footage off a server in the NEP/PACE SS-3D production truck situated at Augusta National, backhauling it over fiber to Comcast Media Center (CMC) in Denver, then compressing it for final delivery to the home and sending it back out over its fiber network to local delivery points.

The 3D demonstration, held at SNY Studios in midtown Manhattan, featured an LG 3D set that used Real D passive glasses and a Sony 3D set that used battery-powered active glasses. Comcast also showed the 3D footage on a 3D-capable Acer laptop that worked with the passive glasses, simulating the free 3D Web stream that will be available during the tournament on masters.com.

Sony is sponsoring the 3D production through a deal with Augusta National, and Comcast will be delivering the 3D feed to Sony displays in hospitality tents at the club. Comcast will also provide the feed to IBM, which is supporting the 3D Web stream on masters.com.

According to Comcast Fellow Mark Francisco, the Masters 3D feed will be delivered in the 1080i, side-by-side format over an ASI stream to CMC, where it will be compressed to 18.75 megabits per second for final delivery to the home. That is the same rate that Comcast typically delivers for live 2D HD sports telecasts today, he adds.

While the New York demonstration used an MPEG-4 feed, Comcast will use MPEG-2 compression for the national feed to ensure that it is viewable by all existing Comcast HD set-tops. Comcast will also use multiplexing technology from 3D specialist RealD to deliver the side-by-side format. RealD's technology has been adopted by a number of set-maker including Sony, Samsung and Vizio, and was licensed by Cablevision for its 3D telecast of a New York Rangers hockey game last week.

The Web feed, which relied on advanced compression technology and a software-based 3D player, was delivered at a bitrate of 4.5 Mbps.

ESPN is producing the Masters coverage with PACE, and regular ESPN commentators Mike Tirico, Terry Gannon and Andy North will call the action. Coverage will include two hours of the Par 3 Tournament on Wed., Apr. 7 on holes 4, 8 and 9, airing live from 3-5 pm EST. Coverage of the main tournament from Thurs., Apr. 8 through Sun., Apr. 11 will feature holes 14, 16 and 18 with rotating coverage of holes 10-13 and 17. It will air live from 4 pm-6 pm EST on Thursday and Friday and from 5-8 pm EST on Saturday and Sunday. On-demand replays will also be available.
Comcast executives didn't disclose any future 3D programming plans, and declined to comment on the status of carriage negotiations with ESPN over its upcoming 3D channel. They said that plans for public viewing parties for the Masters were still being formulated, and would probably consist mostly of VIP and press events.

Hess did confirm that Comcast will be providing a feed to Sony Style stores that cross its footprint. Sony executives have told B&C that there will be a 3D viewing event at the Sony Style store at Comcast Center in Philadelphia. Part of the challenge with public viewing parties is a lack of 3D sets; Sony won't get meaningful volume of its new 3D sets until June.

Hess, a former college golfer who has had the opportunity to play Augusta National, is eagerly anticipating the coverage. He says he was "blown away" by 3D's ability to accurately depict the elevation changes of Augusta National, which he called the true challenge of the course. He expects particularly dramatic shots from the par-4 10th hole, which features a downhill fairway and a green that slopes sharply right to left.

[Simonizer]

So is this only for Shaw Cable, or Shaw Direct satellite service as well?

[hugh]

Shaw Cable only on Channel 318.

[talljak]

Wait.. this is legit?
I just assumed it was an April first joke
Crazy 3D craze

[Ken H]

Yes, this is legit.

Also, The Masters web site will stream the same live 3D broadcast. If you have a 3D gaming PC, and fast Internet connection, you'll be all set.

Exclusive to AVS Forum from IBM. Posted here with permission.

How to view The 2010 Masters in 3D via The Masters web site

System Requirements Module Content:

In order to fully enjoy the Masters 3D video via the Internet the following is required:

· a computer system capable of supporting 3D viewing.
· an internet connection capable of a minimum of 10 Mbits/second.
· a supported 3D player.

There are multiple computer systems that support 3D viewing. These computer systems require a specific video card, CPU, 120 Mhz monitor and 3D glasses to view the 3D content.

Detail Specifications:

There are a number of different computer systems such as:

· NVIDIA® 3D Vision™
· Acer Aspire Aspire 5738DG
· Asus G51J-3D

In addition the supported computer systems a video player which supports the play back of 3D video and streaming Windows Media is required. One such player is the Stereoscopic Player. This player is available for purchase at http://www.3dtv.at.


The Masters.com Viewing Instructions Module Content:

To view the Masters 3D video via the Internet (using Stereoscopic Player) please follow these instructions:

1) Ensure connectivity to the Internet
2) Choose START, RUN ……
3) Choose File>Open URL (from the menu)
4) Type or paste the URL into the text field.
5) Click OK.
6) Change viewing method with View>Viewing Method (from the menu). This is where you might select your monitor type or the NVIDIA 3D Vision system.
7) Open video in full screen mode by double clicking the video window or selecting View>Full Screen Scaled.

If you are having trouble viewing the video in 3D, please consult the help for your system and verify other content is viewable in 3D. You may also want to refer to the support and help information regarding your video player and the setup process for your hardware. If you are using Stereoscopic Player for the first time, you may need to configure it for your particular 3D setup.

The instructions to view the Masters 3D video with a player other than the Stereoscopic Player will be different. You will need to start the player and “load” the following URL … and select full screen as a viewing option.



Please note the 3D link is not available yet at The Masters website.

[Ken H]

For those with Shaw Cable and a wad of cash burning a hole in their pocket, Richard Lawler of EngadgetHD reports Samsung 3DTVs have hit shelves at FutureShop. Note that early reports (from Consumers Reports, and from those who've seen retail demos) have the Samsung 3DTV LCD sets with more observable crosstalk (AKA ghosting, not desirable) compared to the Panasonic plasma 3D HDTVs. Unfortunately, the 3D Panasonic plasmas (VT25 series) aren't scheduled for availability in Canada until May, and the few that were available in the US are reported to have sold out. Other brands with announced 3D HDTVs, including Sony, Vizio, LG, Toshiba, are not on the market yet either. The previous and currently available ('07, '08, '09, '10 model years) Mitsubishi & Samsung 3D ready DLP RPTVs would work, if they had the not yet available 3D format input adapter module. The Mitsu module 3DC-1000, which will also work with the Samsung sets, is due in the next month or so for the projected price of $100 USD, too late for The Masters.

[bigscreenbob]

All-right!! Macro-blocking in 3-D !! That should look great !!
That will be the day I sit in my living room with goofy 3-D glasses watching the telly. Can't see it going mainstream. It sounds alot like the Wii craze. Anybody I know with the Wii has it growing nothing but dust.
Maybe I'm wrong and once I try it maybe I will be bugging the better half for a TV upgrade again but I doubt it.

[Ken H]

I saw the online version of the Par 3 Tournament today from The Masters.com. Used an Asus G51J-3D laptop and NVIDIA 3D Vision Bundle. It was pretty impressive. It had a few problems with bandwidth stopping the stream initially and some of the images in the foreground were blurred, but over all it was quite a trip. Highly recommended.

[goplasmago]

work at a bestbuy here in BC

and all I have to say is WOW, Shaw came in the morning set up the pace box with the expander and we tuned in on channel 318 and it looked pretty impressive.

Loved the 3D and kudos to shaw for having this.
I think every bestbuy is doing this so you can go in and watch it whenever because they should have recorded it on the expander

[hugh]

goplasmago, thanks for the thoughts. I'd love to see it.

[hugh]

Press release today

Bell today announced that it will be Canada's first TV provider to offer a national 3D High Definition television broadcast when Bell TV delivers rounds three and four of the 2010 Masters Tournament in 3D HD this weekend.


On Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11, the Masters will be broadcast in commercial-free 3D HD from 5 pm to 7 pm ET. Available coast to coast to all Bell TV subscribers with High Definition service, the Masters Tournament in 3D HD will be available on channel 1000 at no extra charge.

Bell TV HD set top boxes are already capable of receiving 3D HD, although customers also require a 3D television and compatible 3D glasses.

[dm_4u]

Thanks for the heads up Hugh...I've been wanting to test a theory I have that some HDTV's are already 3D capable...we just didn't know it...just like the BELL-TV HD PVR's that are already 3D ready.

Does anyone know what color glasses they use?

[goplasmago]

I am pretty sure you have to use the glasses provided by the manufactor. Like at the store, we have it set up with the Samsung 55C7000 and we are using the Samsung 3D active shutter glasses. Our samsung rep said you couldn't use the movie theatre glasses.

[hugh]

am pretty sure you have to use the glasses provided by the manufactor.

Yes. My understanding for both Bell and Shaw is that polarized glasses won't work with this and that you need active shutter glasses and a 3DTV.