Sky has purchased 15,000 3D televisions from LG Electronics and plans to install them in pubs around the country to promote its 3D broadcasts. Back in January, Sky broadcast a Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United and held screenings of the event in nine pubs to show off the technology.
The broadcaster is set to launch a 3D service for wide use in the UK in April, while consumer electronics manufacturers are pushing out new 3D flat-panel televisions. The industry hopes that growing interest in 3D movies in theaters will spur interest in 3D TV at home.
Sky hopes that showing football matches and other sports events in pubs in 3D will generate some interest in it. LG also benefits from the deal in that its televisions are being promoted as part of Sky’s demonstrations.
Result for: launch
According to multiple reports, the UK launch of the Google Nexus One has been delayed until the middle of next month, a setback that should lose it sales to the HTC Legend, which is set for release in a few weeks.
The handset will be available unlocked at a premium or locked to Vodafone with a two-year contract for free.
Because of the delay, the Nexus One will have to compete with the Legend as well as the HTC Desire, both of which use Android, along with the very popular HTC Sense user interface.
Overall, the Nexus One has struggled in the US, and Goldman Sachs recently cut their sales estimates from 3.5 million this year to a measly 1 million.
There was no reason behind the delay.
Result for: launch
Panasonic Corp. will work with U.S. electronics provider Best Buy for its launch of 3D televisions in the United States. The official launch of Panasonic’s 3D ventures in the U.S. will be on Wednesday, and Best Buy will be the main promoter of the products in the market.
Best Buy will setup viewing areas at its retail outlets across the country, where consumers can try out the Panasonic 3D products. Panasonic is aiming to sell half a million 3D televisions in the United States in their first year on the market, and expects a 50-inch Viera model to retail in the region for $2,500.
Consumer interest in 3D has been on the rise due to high-profile theatrical releases of 3D titles, such as James Cameron’s Avatar or Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. Panasonic is in 4th place in the global market for flat-panel televisions (behind Samsung, LG Electronics and Sony).
