‘In April 2010 the ACMA received applications from both the SBS and Nine that to conduct trials of 3D TV using unassigned BSB spectrum. Following negotiations between the broadcasters that resulted in a single combined trial to be conducted in each market, the ACMA received applications for transmitter licences in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and Wollongong’ (ACMA).

Nine have recently promoted that they would be the first to broadcast 3D sport in Australia, with their coverage of the rugby State of Origin. Foxtel subsequently announced they would be broadcasting the Socceroos match from the MCG on the 24th May in 3D, resulting in Foxtel taking the trophy from Nine as first (by two days) to broadcast 3D sport in Australia. The Nine Network will still be the first free-to-air broadcaster, as SBS won’t be trialling the new broadcasting method until the Soccer World Cup, with their announcement of an SBS 3D World Cup channel during the tournament.

There has been no clear indication for the future of 3D television in Australia after the two month trial by the Nine Network and SBS. Nor is there any indication of the population percentage that have a 3D television to be able to view the trial broadcasts. Mark Leathan, head of marketing consumer electronics for Samsung, has ‘predicted 3D sets would account for 10 per cent of television sales over the next year’ (SMH). The questions is what percentage of the population require a new television? Some members of the Australian public may have already upgraded during the governments recent upgrade to digital television campaign.

Not only is there an argument about the niche Australian audience that have access to the technology, but also the health risks. Mark Pesce argues that ‘all of this is rolling forward without any thought to the potential health hazards of continuous, long-term exposure to 3D. None of the television manufacturers have done any health & safety testing around this’ (ABC).

The newer version of 3D we see being used today uses a Parallax technique, one of many monocular cues of our eyes. So as Pesce argues ‘Basically, you’re fighting with your own brain, which is getting a bit confused. It’s got some cues to give it a sense of depth, but it’s missing others. Eventually your brain just starts ignoring the other cues’ (ABC). Hence the reason why some of us find it difficult to adjust after viewing a 3D movie or now television program.

Time will tell whether this 3D tsunami will make it to land or cease prior and wash out along side HD DVD?

RELATED LINKS
Keep doing that and you’ll go blind?
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2813511.htm

3D TV trials
http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_312131

3D Socceroos
?http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/video/0,,Socceroos_34475,00.html

3D TV, Cinema & Gaming Guide?
http://www.hdtvorg.co.uk/guide/3d/3d_technology.htm

Fox Sports beats Nine to first 3D sports broadcast
?http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/346760/fox_sports_beats_nine_first_3d_sports_broadcast/

SBS to broadcast World Cup in 3D?
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1258357/SBS-to-broadcast-World-Cup-in-3D

3D TV about to kick off
?http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/3d-tv-about-to-kick-off-20100517-v6tz.html??

Australian broadcasters dabble in 3D TV?
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/hometech/australian-broadcasters-dabble-in-3d-tv-20100118-mfej.html

3D TV is here, but content is not
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/3d-tv-is-here-but-content-is-not-20100416-skgi.html??

Photosensitive Seizure Warning and Other Health Risks
?http://www.samsung.com/au/tv/notice.html

SBS 3D, Fox Sports 3D, Nine 3D. The 3D Home Entertainment Revolution starts with Sport.
http://www.throng.com.au/state-origin/sbs-3d-fox-sports-3d-nine-3d-3d-home-entertainment-revolution-starts-sport

With the recent announcement, Sony has taken into consideration the concerns of PS3 users, with iView being available through a dedicated application rather than the web browser method used on the PlayStation 3 console. This change in approach does have drawbacks, ‘the ABC says that ‘formatting issues’ will mean the main drawcards for iView as a catchup service – such as the 7pm News, The 7.30 Report, Four Corners, Lateline, Lateline Business, The Midday Report and Foreign Correspondent – will be missing at launch’ (APC Mag).
Another issue for Australian homes will be internet usage, when the service is accessed through the internet enabled Sony Bravia televisions and Blu-ray players it will be metered regardless of whether you’re connected with one of the Internet service providers allowing unmetered access to iView.

The ABC argues that, ‘with ISP’s like iiNet and Telstra looking to launch their own competing IPTV services, it certainly makes sense from a business perspective that they don’t want to give competitors a leg up’ (Crickey).

Sony will be offering additional IPTV channels with iView, including new global channels, ‘On Networks, Daily Motion, Howcast and Concierge. These channels join catch-up TV services and made-for-the-internet content from Yahoo!7, SBS, Billabong and YouTube that will be made available through BRAVIA Internet Video in the coming months.’ (Sony)

RELATED LINKS
ABC iView gets better connected
http://blogs.abc.net.au/abc_tv/2010/04/abc-iview-gets-better-connected.html

ABC iView to be bundled with Sony Bravia TVs and Blu-ray decks
http://apcmag.com/abc-iview-to-be-bundled-with-sony-bravia-tvs-and-blu-ray-decks.htm

Sony connect up the iView
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/whitenoise/2010/04/12/sony-connect-up-the-iview/

Why The iView Bravia App Will Be Metered
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/04/why-the-iview-bravia-app-will-be-metered/

Sony strengthens its IPTV offering in Australia
http://www.sony.com.au/pressrelease/asset/392405/section/consumerproductspressreleases

Video avaliable via ABC iVeiw
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/program/463284

Transcript and Audio avaliable
http://www.chaser.com.au/component/content/article/29-chaser-updates/3526-andrew-olle-media-lecture-2009
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/11/07/2735643.htm

Kim Dalton, ABC’s Director of Television says “We want to make our content as accessible as possible to our audience. Increasingly, that means extending our online reach so Australians can watch what they want, when they want it.”

With this good news there should also be caution. Constantly using the iVeiw service will take data from your allocated internet data limit. There are a few generous ISP’s allowing this service to be unmetered, so best to check prior to trying to catch-up on all the Doctor Who episodes.

RELATED LINKS
ABC iView coming to the new, cheaper Playstation 3
http://www.digital-media.net.au/article/abc-iview-coming-to-the-new-cheaper-playstation-3/494974.aspx

There is no single answer to this problem, but could one issue be the pricing?
When looking at movies and TV shows on iTunes the cost is equivalent to the price of a physical DVD purchase. One key difference with psychical DVD purchases, that I’m yet to see on the iTunes Store is the extras, including behind the scenes, directors commentary, interviews and music videos. Not to mention printing and manufacturing of a physical products is no longer required, when using an online distribution method. Yet the difference in price between physical and downloadable movie prices in minimal.

Studios argue piracy is reducing cinema audiences, yet there was a growth of ‘6 per cent to $946 million in 2008, the highest grossing year on record’. Piracy isn’t a new issue, the introduction of the VCR allowed audience to record programs for later viewing. CD burners allowed music listeners to duplicate CD’s. What the internet has allowed is great choice and even greater access.

One interesting statement came from Michael Lyton, Sony Pictures Entertainment chief executive who said, ‘I’m a guy who doesn’t see anything good having come from the internet. Period’. Lynton went further complaining that ‘the internet had “created this notion that anyone can have whatever they want at any given time … and if you don’t give it to them for free, they’ll steal it”.

Interesting comments, which circulated around the internet very quickly. One blogger comparing Lynton’s comments to the famous quote from H.W. Warner, “Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?”. Lynton afterward wrote an article titled, Guardrails for the Internet: Preserving Creativity Online, which he attempts to his validate his arguments.

RELATED LINKS
Illegal downloads soar as hard times bite
http://www.theage.com.au/news/technology/illegal-downloads-soar-as-hard-times-bite/2009/05/27/1243103577467.html

“a process where integral elements of a fiction get dispersed systematically across multiple delivery channels for the purpose of creating a unified and coordinated entertainment experience. Ideally, each medium makes it own unique contribution to the unfolding of the story”.
(http://www.henryjenkins.org/2007/03/transmedia_storytelling_101.html)

Jenkins’ uses “The Matrix” as an example of transmedia storytelling. Using various media platforms including film, games, comics, animations, websites etc, to convey the story to the audience. Although each of these elements stands alone as a single narrative, each adds greater depth to the overall narrative.

Transmedia broadcasting is when an identical narrative is broadcast across multiple media platforms. For example the ABC (Australia) may broadcast a program on television, then allow the audience to view the program on iView, watch or download the program on ABC.net.au and on their portable media devices (iPhone). Although their are four different platforms for the audience to view the content, none of the platforms give further depth to the overall narrative of the program. Below I have drawn two illustration to further explain the difference between the two terms transmedia storytelling and transmedia broadcasting.

RELATED LINKS
Transmedia Storytelling 101
http://www.henryjenkins.org/2007/03/transmedia_storytelling_101.html

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http://henryjenkins.org/2009/03/an_interview_with_jessica_clar.html

http://henryjenkins.org/2009/03/where_citizens_gather_an_inter.html

This will allow a phone that has internet to access the ABC Mobile site. ABC has designed dedicated applications for the iPhone and Andriod. Both of which are free downloads, with the iPhone application in the top 5 of the “Top Free Apps” section on the iTunes Store.

The commencement of ABC Mobile will be a site text based, excluding any audio or video material. This decision was made so data usage is kept at a low for the users. The good news is there is some video and audio content for the iPhone users. The menu of the iPhone application is intuitive with a range of content available including:

Latest – Gives an update of all the section below.
News – Broken into Top Stories, Just In, Sport, World and many more
TV – Includes a TV guide for ABC1 and ABC2 along with podcasts to view, currently there is 5 available.
Radio – Includes a guide for a number of ABC’s radio program along with a number of podcasts.
More – Sporting Results, Movie Reviews, the ABC Shop and more.

There are a few negative points with the application including:

• You can only view the latest episode for the programs not any previous programs.
• The limited amount of content of video.
• The ABC Store sells DVD, Music, Books, but none of these are for digital download.
• To purchase an item on the store you must call (Using the quick link provided) rather than purchase it directly through the application.

but I’m sure these will be future improvements.

Overall ABC and moving further forward as the commercial networks continue to be static in their approach to alternative broadcast platforms.

RELATED LINKS
ABC Mobile BETA
http://www.abc.net.au/innovation/mobile_beta/

ABC launches mobile content platform
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/16/2517183.htm

ABC Now Going After Mobile Users
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2009/03/abc_now_going_after_mobile_users.html

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