IBC loves 3D

This year’s IBC has been a great one for the Twofour Digital team and not only because our hotel was conveniently located on Dam Square. Sharing the Microsoft stand, alongside telling the Twofour Digital story in the form of unveiling a great new demo, (watch this space for the official launch) put us in a great position to share the benefits of our products and services for several different market sectors. Despite being in competition with 1,300 other exhibitors we didn't even notice the 7% fewer registered attendees at this year’s IBC.

I also found it to be a great opportunity to discuss key trends with industry veterans. One in particular which stole a lot of column inches in the IBC Daily Magazine was 3D Television. Ben Waggoner of Microsoft and I mused over the concept, jumping ahead in considering the challenges faced in delivering 3D online. We agreed that the technological barriers can be overcome, however the real challenge is to convince content owners that there is a worthy investment to be made in supplying a 3D version of their content online, especially when we consider that most people who currently enjoy the 3D experience the most are likely to spend a greater proportion of their time online than they do on air. Think of all the big Hollywood movies that have come out recently; Monsters vs Aliens, Bolt and the soon to be released Shrek Forever After; they all have something in common besides the occasional duck of the head when an object appears to come flying at you; they share a similar target audience. Cinema-goers of these films are growing up in a highly advanced digital era and in many cases surpass their parents in their computer aptitude because of where and how they choose to spend their time.

Only time will tell which content owner will be the first to realise this opportunity and give the end user the option to watch a 3D version of all their video content online, (akin to how you and I can select to watch a clip in high definition). Hopefully, this will be sooner rather than later and not just because I want an excuse to wear tinted shades indoors.