Financial

NPD Group reports that in February-May, Americans have spent over $55 million on 3D-enabled TVs and Blu-ray players. The new TVs are enjoying steady growth. According to NPD, the biggest problem that consumers have is not having enough glasses to accommodate all viewers. Another big problem is "looking silly".

Via HotHardware

PassmoreLab (a 3D production studio) has signed a $200 million agreement to convert 500 of Grizzly Adams' movies to 3D. This will create the largest 3D library in the entertainment industry. Grizzly Adams Productions is a producer of family friendly and faith-based independent movies, documentaries, television specials and series.

RealD, who's making 3D products for cinema and the home plans to IPO soon. They are trying to leverage the huge sales boost they've seen since Avatar launched. In the year that ended in March 2009, they had $40 million in revenue. In the nine month ending in December 2009, they had $96 million in revenue!

They are still losing a lot of money, though: in the 2009 they had a net loss of $16.3 million.

RealD's technology is used in 5,321 theater screens and they say that there are plans to add their technology to 4,900 more screens.

Via ZDNet

DisplaySearch has doubled their forecast for 3D TVs in 2010 to 2.5 million (back in January they forecasted only 1.2 million). The market will grow to 27 million TVs in 2013.

DisplaySearch say that “The key issue will be how consumers react to the initial product launch, and what the industry will learn from the feedback of early adopters. Complications in the TV supply chain—especially 3D content shortages—remain the biggest hurdles to overcome."

LG Electronics is aggressive on 3D TVs and hopes to get a 25% market share with 1 million 3D TV sales in 2010 (back in 2009, the plan was to sell 400,000 such TVs in 2010). They also announced that the 47" LX9500 will go on sale next week in Korea. It will cost 4.7 million won (a little over $4100) and will include two pair of glasses.

LG Infinia LE9500

Via Reuters

Samsung has announced their upcoming 3DTV line in the US. There are 17 TVs, Blu-ray players and other products - all with 3D support. They'll be offering 3D TVs that are based on LED LCDs, 'normal' LCDs and plasmas. Prices will range from $7000 to $1700 (for a 46" LCD).

Samsung also announced a deal with DreamWorks under which they'll get exclusive 3D versions of some of DreamWork's films.

Via PCMag

Sony announced that it will begin selling 3D TVs in June. They will also provide the PS3 3D upgrade with the new TVs. Sony's first 3D TVs will be the Bravia XBR-LX900 in 40" ($3,200) and 46" ($3900). The TVs will come with two pais of 3D glasses. In July Sony plans to release six new sets: 52" and 60" models of the same series, and four "3D-Ready" models that will not have glasses or infrared transmitters bundled.

Sony estimates that the glasses will cost around $140, and the transmitter around $50. Sony also unveiled how the TDG-BR50 glasses will look.

Sony TDG-BR50 glasses

Sony's TVs will also include 2D-to-3D realtime converter software.