3-D HD broadcasting technology has been developing at a nice, quiet pace. Demonstrations at communications shows around the globe were followed by measured services introductions and an abundance of consumer market research.

In March, Eutelsat Communications provided capacity to broadcast a live music performance that was filmed, transmitted and projected in stereo 3-D HD on a cinema screen and on prototype models of stereo 3-D HDTVs. In April, IDC and Sensio Technologies launched live 3-D for digital cinema in Europe, and in June, GlobeCast and Orange Labs delivered a live 3-D HD feed of a performance of Don Giovanni from the Rennes Opera house in Brittany, France, via satellite to cinemas throughout the country.

While the theater experience seemed well-suited for initial 3-D events, IDC CEO Ron Clifton predicted that the major breakthrough for satellite-delivered 3-D would also have to involve live events and direct-to-home. “There is some frustration because theaters are not moving fast enough to take advantage of all this. Pretty soon, the home market guys will be wondering how to do it. The technology is there.”

Clifton’s prediction may come true, as ESPN, Discovery Communications and DirecTV all opened the floodgates in early January with announcements of dedicated 3-D HD network plans.

The quiet development period of 3-D HD, along with the measured pace of Europe’s 3-D roll-out (illustrated by BSkyB’s little-noticed July announcement of plans to launch a 3-D channel in 2010) is over, because the last thing anyone will ever accuse ESPN of being is measured and controlled. Give the sports broadcasting giant its due credit for ambition and the ability to take advantage of an obvious opportunity — ESPN is launching its 3-D coverage with plans to showcase a minimum of 85 live sports events during its first year, including 2010 World Cup matches. “ESPN’s commitment to 3-D is a win for fans and our business partners. ESPN 3D marries great content with new technology to enhance the fan’s viewing experience and puts ESPN at the forefront of the next big advance for TV viewing,” ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer said in a statement.

The problem is that the broadcasters are ahead of the audience, much in the same way they were for HD. The number of 3-D-capable, in-home TV sets is minimal, so the audience feedback will be too small to make much of an impact. And while delivering the 3-D signal will not require a major infrastructure investment for the broadcasters, there does not seem to be any way to monetize the 3-D channel beyond the baseline revenue for basic HD. In addition, nobody has answered such basic questions as whether or not consumers are ready to wear glasses in order to watch television.

3-D broadcasts to the home are technologically feasible, but ramping up the hype this early only guarantees that 3-D will be a “promising” market for years to come.