Sensio Unwraps 3D VoD Service in US

After a series of delays, Sensio Technologies launched its on-demand 3DTV service, 3DGO!, on Monday in the U.S. Calling it "the world's first and only dedicated 3D transactional VoD service," Sensio is hinting that 3DGO! will soon work on multiple television platforms supporting Sensio Hi-Fi 3D technology. At launch, however, the service is only available on Vizio Inc. Smart TVs with Theatre 3D. The service requires an app download from the Yahoo Connected TV store along with a 3DGO! account. Over the last year, Sensio has announced several 3D licensing deals for 3DGO! Content partners include Walt Disney Co., Paramount Pictures Corp., Starz Entertainment LLC, Big Picture Digital Productions, and National Geographic Cinema Ventures. The service offers more than 40 titles ranging in price from US$5.99 to $7.99 for a 24-hour rental. Many consumer electronics manufacturers and service providers are still pushing 3D technology, but adoption remains lackluster. At the end of 2012, Leichtman Research Group Inc. (LRG) found that only 6 percent of U.S. homes have a 3D-capable TV, and 41 percent of those households never watch any 3D content. (See Dish Unveils Its HD-DVR Sling Shot.) Home Box Office Inc. (HBO) CTO Bob Zitter also expressed skepticism over the technology recently, suggesting that "3D with glasses is dead." — Mari Silbey, Special to Light Reading Cable