SES Astra has formed an initiative with broadcasters and consumer electronics vendors to support the introduction and take-up of 3-D TV services in Europe.
    The initiative aims to reach an industry-wide understanding of the minimum technical specifications for the introduction of 3-D television and broadcasting. SES said the initiative has received the endorsement of various European broadcasters, including public and private TV channels as well as representatives from the consumer electronics industry.
    “We are very pleased with the results of our initiative which represents a major leap in the introduction of 3-D television across Europe. By working closely with our broadcast customers and the consumer electronics industry, we are again demonstrating our ability to bring together key-industry players to drive innovation in the field of broadcasting technology,” Ferdinand Kayser, CEO, SES Astra said in a statement.    
     3-D TV will drive the shipment of 40 million 3-D TV sets worldwide in 2013, according to IMS Research forecasts. By 2015, IMS Research expects that more than 70 million 3-D TV sets will be shipped. “We are not as bullish as some other firms, but I believe that our forecast is quite realistic considering the aggressive rollout and pricing strategies of many leading OEMs in the TV space,” Anna Hunt, a research analyst at IMS Research, said in the report.
     Separately, Eurosport announced it will use Eutelsat capacity to transmit the U.S. Open (tennis) in 3-D at IFA, a consumer electronics show held in Berlin. The U.S. Open in 3-D will be available on a dedicated Eurosport 3-D signal transmitted to Panasonic’s IFA booth via Eutelsat’s Eurobird 9A satellite.   
    “This partnership with Eurosport leverages Eutelsat’s 3-D experience and the core asset of our broadcast satellites to deliver a new generation of rich content requiring a 15 Mbit/s signal to fully appreciate stunning 3-D effects in the home,” Eutelsat COO Andrew Wallace said in a statement.