Comcast teases future 3D LED and Plasma TV consumers

3D content has been a concern since the first whispers of TV manufacturers deciding to expand product lines to offer LED and Plasma 3D TVs. For a substantially higher price, consumers are getting a whole lot of potential in their 3D LED and Plasma TVs, but aren't getting much in return in the way of 3D content.

While the amount of 3D content may be a let down so far, the slow addition of more and more 3D events and channels will certainly play into the hands of 3D TV manufacturers as early adopters impress even the most skeptical buyers with glimpses of 3D brilliance.

The number of 3D LED and Plasma TV owners is certainly limited. Only a select handful of the nation's population (estimates of a couple thousand) have the luxury of a 3D TV at their disposal; so there really isn't much incentive for studios to develop 3D content built just for the TV. Or is there?

The beauty of the early adopter just now getting his or her hands on a 3D TV is not that it will be enjoyed in the isolation of one's home by just one viewer. No, it is that the early adopter will tactfully offer friends and family an opportunity to enjoy a big time event on a big time 3D TV like the Samsung UN55C7000 55-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D LED HDTV (Black).

Comcast announced that it will be offering the highly publicized 2010 Masters in 3D next week. Not a very strategic move if Comcast is only looking to entice a large breadth of consumers. Most likely, that is not what Comcast is trying to do.

Comcast is taking one of the most beautiful and historic golf courses and turning it into a high definition, 3D masterpiece. Imagine the ball flying right off the TV screen and layers upon layers of bright green trees all in a new TV dimension.

What Comcast realizes is that it is not about a large number of consumers seeing the beautiful event. It is about the right consumers seeing the event and telling everyone about it.

By rolling out channels upon channels of 3D content, everyday TV would turn into 3D TV and the joy and wonder of the 3D LED and Plasma TV experience would be gone. Newscasters, sitcoms and weather maps would all be in 3D. Who wants to see a stock ticker in 3D?

It's all about that first big event or movie that one can enjoy in 3D that will keep the intrigued consumer coming back for more. It's Avatar, Alice In Wonderland, and now the Masters.

Derek Harrar, senior vice president of video and entertainment services, says, "This technology is really ideal for events. You probably wouldn't want to sit around and watch the evening news in 3D."

Essentially, while the adoption curve is at it's earliest stage, content providers are all about previewing, or for that matter teasing consumers with the best events in order to stimulate a demand for what consumers would see as a glimpse of 3D paradise and perhaps persuade them later on to not only buy a 3D LED or Plasma TV, but the services of a 3D content provider like Comcast as well.

It may not be the best investment now for Comcast, but the intrigue will be worth it in the long run.