CES 2010 : 3D Television Will At Least 10 Years To Become Popular Says Expert

If this is CES, there must be 3D. Lots and lots of 3D. 3D televisions. 3D movies. 3D sporting events. Leave the exhibit hall and you expect the paintings on the wall to leap out at you. 

Never mind going to the bathroom. And this year, they swear, will be the year you can have that thrilling experience at home, too.

Noting that 4 out of 10 of last year's top 10-grossing movies were shown in theaters in 3D, Samsung, DreamWorks, and Technicolor announced a global strategic alliance for the delivery of "a complete 3D home entertainment solution" this year -- including a line of 3D-capable HDTVs from Samsung and its new 3D Blu-ray disc player, anchored by the release of Dreamworks' Monsters vs. Aliens.

Although Samsung didn't mention it, Intel is presumably involved, having announced its initial agreement with Dreamworks a year and a half ago to produce Monsters vs. Aliens in the first place. The sets will even be able to convert 2D programming to 3D.

In fact, Tim Baxter, president of Samsung Electronics Co.'s consumer division, told the Toronto Star, 10 to 14% of the roughly 35 million TVs sold in the US this year will be 3D-capable. That would be more than 3 million.

LG Electronics, Sony, and Panasonic also announced 3D televisions at the show. In addition, Sony announced its first 3D Blu-ray title, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, which will be released about the same time.

In addition, Disney -- which claims it has produced more 3D content than any other major studio, said it will begin rolling out 3D Blu-ray titles this year, beginning with Disney's A Christmas Carol, and followed by Alice in Wonderland and Toy Story 3.