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3D: The future of great sports on television

Titanic director Cameron leading the Hollywood charge to 3D

OPINION
By Chris Mottram
updated 6:19 p.m. ET Nov. 11, 2008

My apartment welcomed its first HD television into this world nearly one year ago. Much has changed between then and now, but one thing hasn’t: every day when daddy gets home from work, there she is, my 47-inch baby, as beautiful as ever, ready to fill me with joy all night. I’m a very proud papa.

Having said that, my apartment and I have discussed and we’re open to the idea of bringing another super picture box into our lives. Especially if it’s going to broadcast sports in 3D:

David Hill has seen the future of television, and it has a third dimension.

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The Australian-born supremo of Rupert Murdoch's Fox Sports empire in the US says the illusion of depth will change the nature of television.

"3D will change everything and it is not that far away from being reality."

Hill is among those who believe that 3D television that does not require viewers to don awkward 1950s-style glasses, will be on the market within a few years.

He has already begun experimenting with 3D broadcasts, renting the cameras from Titanic director James Cameron, who has been leading the Hollywood charge to 3D.

"The results have been fantastic," he says.

"For instance, I think it is going to save the sport of boxing. We did a very ordinary bout from one of the Indian casinos (in California) and it was unbelievable. You are right in there in the ring with these guys."

Oh come on Mr. Hill, nothing can save the sport of boxing. (Sorry, Large). Although certainly, 3D TV would take sports, in general, to another level. Imagine tennis, for example. Picture — oh, I don’t know ... lemme just throw a name out there at random — Anna Ivanovic sitting there, in your living room, taking a breather up 3-2 on — let’s just say for kicks — Maria Sharapova, who happens to be sitting 10 feet away ... also in your living room. There they are, the two of them, in your house, just drinking some water, maybe spilling some of it on themselves to cool down, or perhaps fighting fatigue by eating some potassium-rich bananas.

Ah yes, the future is bright.

© 2009 The Sporting News

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