Well, I predicted on New Year’s Day that ESPN 3D would get pulled. Looks like one prediction has quickly slipped the bit. It was announced this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that ESPN 3D which is available in about six households will be going 24/7 starting in mid-February.
I don’t think the channel has enough households to be measured by Nielsen, but that’s besides the point. ESPN appears bullish behind 3D and will most likely continue to back it for the foreseeable future.
Here’s the press release.
ESPN 3D Expands Programming Line Up – Will Air 3D Content All Day, Everyday
A year ago on this date ESPN announced the launch of an event-based only 3D network which would air nearly 100 events in its first year. Today the company announced at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show that ESPN 3D will now air content 24-hours a day. As of Feb. 14, 2011, the network will show replays of previously televised ESPN 3D events when the network is not showing a live event.“As we continue to expand the number of 3D events on the channel, it made sense operationally to transition ESPN 3D to a 24-7 network,” said Sean Bratches, executive vice president, sales and marketing for Disney and ESPN Media Networks. “We’ve been very pleased with the rate at which our affiliates have adopted ESPN 3D in its first year and we continue to look for new ways to serve fans, advertisers and affiliates with the best 3D sports content available.”On Fri., Jan 7, ESPN 3D will host a special edition of College Football Live on the Sony Stage at the International Consumer Electronics Show with Rece Davis, former coach Lou Holtz and analyst Mark May. The trio will preview the upcoming BCS National Championship Game in Glendale, Ariz. and discuss how ESPN 3D is changing sports viewing. The BCS National Championship game will be available on ESPN 3D.Since launching the network on June 11 with the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the network has aired nearly 60 events. A full schedule for January follows.
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | |
| Wed, Jan 5 | 10:30 p.m. | NBA: Los Angeles at Phoenix | |
| Fri, Jan 7 | 10:30 p.m. | NBA: New York at Phoenix | |
| Mon, Jan 10 | 8:30 p.m. | BCS National Championship Game | |
| Fri, Jan 14 | 10:30 p.m. | NBA: Portland at Phoenix | |
| Fri, Jan 21 | 10:30 p.m. | NBA: Los Angeles at Denver |
| Thurs, Jan 27 | 12 p.m. | Winter X Games: Men’s Ski SlopeStyle Elimination |
| Thurs, Jan 27 | 9 p.m. | Winter X Games: Men’s SB SuperPipe Elimination/Women’s SuperPipe Skiing Final |
| Fri, Jan 28 | 1 p.m. | Winter X Games: Men’s Snowboard SlopeStyle Elimination |
| Fri, Jan 28 | 7 p.m. | Winter X Games: Men’s Ski SuperPipe Final/SB Method Final |
| Sat, Jan 29 | 4:30 p.m. | Winter X Games: Men’s Ski SlopeStyle Final |
| Sat, Jan 29 | 9 p.m. | Winter X Games: Men’s Ski Big Air Final/Women’s SB SuperPipe Final |
| Sun, Jan 30 | 12:30 p.m. | Winter X Games: Women’s Snowboard SlopeStyle Final |
| Sun, Jan 30 | 3:30 p.m. | Winter X Games: Men’s Snowboard SlopeStyle Final |
| Sun, Jan 30 | 8:30 p.m. | Winter X Games: Men’s Snowboard SuperPipe Final |
3-D is something I’ll continue to monitor as many of you continue to resist buying a set and I really can’t blame you.
