Patchy future forecast for 3D TV in the UK

Samsung 3D TV

3D TV will "struggle" to take off in the UK and will not become part of mainstream viewing, according to a report by Informa Telecoms & Media in today's MediaGuardian.

Its research shows that 125,000 UK households bought 3D TVs last year and almost 90% of them were "active" viewers of 3D TV programmes.

But while those early adopters were keen to view 3D TV on their new sets, the IT&M research forecasts a patchy future for 3D TV.

While the number of households in the UK with 3D TV sets is expected to climb to almost 11 million by 2016 – about a third of the total number of homes – only 42% are expected to actually use them to watch any 3D programming on a regular basis.

"3D TV has the backing of the major UK broadcasters like Sky and Virgin, and most recently the BBC," says Adam Thomas, senior analyst at IT&M. "However despite this public reaction has been mixed, due to both a lack of content and a simple failure of the public to engage."

"Instead of a unique selling point, 3D is now often marketed as just one of the set's benefits along with features such as internet-connection capability and LED backlighting," adds Thomas.

Sky launched Europe's first 3D channel last year and Virgin Media offers a limited choice of 3D movies on demand.

The BBC will broadcast the Wimbledon men's and women's finals in 3D for the first time this year.

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Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.