Comcast Cable Enters A New Dimension

Journalists with Sports New York (SNY) received an early preview of 3D TV in person when Comcast Cable provided them a test of the technology they will employ at this months Masters golf tournament. Comcast experts delivered 3 units to the demonstration. A passive 3D TV created by LG, an active 3D TV created by Sony, and a 3D ready computer. Both passive and active systems require viewers to utilize glasses, however with passive 3D, a large amount of the work is done by the TV and the glasses are generally simple in design and style. With active 3D, the engineering in most 3D TVs presently being developed, viewers have to utilize costlier glasses that have built-in components which help make the 3D effect. For the time being the expense of the passive technology means that makers are concentrating on active 3D.

Users who want to experience the 3D preview through the Masters must meet a few specifications to enjoy the event. Viewers will require a 3DTV and 3D glasses in addition to an HD set top box from Comcast which has High-definition multimedia interface connections. Alternatively, people who currently have a 3D PC screen along with a 3D media player and 3D glasses can also tap into the 3D feed at masters.com. Those that fulfill these specifications may also get the exclusive broadcast via video-on-demand. Comcast plans to provide every previous day's coverage of the Tournament in 3D along with a highlights and recap show with the video-on-demand service. To pull of this task, Comcast will use their fiber optic network to send out the huge 3D feed. Comcast has partnered with IBM to help provide the internet broadcast. For the lucky few who have 3D sets this years Masters will likely be memorable for reasons apart from Tiger's come back.

Comcast, the top service provider of Digital Cable TV, Broadband Internet, and Phone service, is the first major cable television corporation to enter the 3D TV arena when they released plans to transmit several live hours from the Masters golf tournament in 3D. The broadcast will also be accessible over the internet.