Television viewers with 3-D capabilities will be able to fully appreciate Augusta National Golf Club’s changes in elevation and the undulations on its greens this year.
The 2010 Masters Tournament will be produced and broadcast live in 3-D for the first time, Augusta National and Masters Chairman Billy Payne announced Monday. Special equipment will allow the television program to be projected into a realistic three-dimensional field.
It is the first time a golf telecast has been shown in 3-D and will include multiple 3-D cameras placed strategically throughout the course, the club said.
The innovation will let golf fans see the course in perspectives never seen at Augusta National. The course is famous for its sloping greens, but most fans who have never attended the tournament are usually surprised by the course’s steep hills and changes in elevation.
“Utilizing this technology marks another important milestone in allowing our at-home patrons to better experience the beauty of our course and excitement of our tournament,” Payne said in a prepared statement.
The production will primarily focus on the second nine of Augusta National and will be distributed live to those in the United States with television sets and computers that are 3-D capable. Special 3-D glasses will be required to watch the television broadcast.
Two hours of live afternoon 3-D coverage will be available each day beginning during the Par-3 Contest on April 7 and continuing through the four tournament rounds, April 8-11.
Sony Electronics will sponsor the 3-D telecast and also will utilize the latest advances in equipment. Comcast will join in the production effort and provide the distribution channels necessary to deliver the content free to its households throughout the United States. Comcast and IBM, the tournament’s technology partner, will combine efforts to offer the 3-D feed via www.masters.com.
TV MILESTONES
1956: First Masters Tournament television broadcast (holes 15-18)
1960: Interview of champion by Masters chairman begins
1966: First golf broadcast in color
1967: First overseas broadcast when BBC televises Masters via satellite
1982: First- and second-round television coverage begins on USA
2000: First golf tournament broadcast in high-definition on network television
2002: 18-hole coverage on Sunday begins
2008: Par-3 Contest televised for first time
Source: Augusta National Golf Club
I'm confused... April Fool's Day isn't for another two weeks.
How many 3-d tvs & computers do we have,, not many.
i'm guessing about 1 in 1 million people actually have a 3D tv, 3D cable service, and will actually watch the tournament. it's as if they were introducing HiDef in 1989.
Let me rush out and pony up 8K for a 42 in Phillips 3D to watch golf. I can get a ticket cheaper than that.
What if we all get drunk and put on those silly 3-D glasses? Obviously technology is running out of things to invent, as long as 3-D has been around and they are now just getting around to incorporating it into television? What's next? Interactive news broadcasts, where the viewer can interrupt the anchor and ask questions? Those cooking shows can now have "aroma television"? And 3-D porno? Now that'll move televisions!
I mean, I realize it's the latest being offered by broadcasters, but come on. Like walrus mentioned, very few people are going to be able to afford not just the specially equipped television, but the special 3-D capable service also. Heck, that's one reason I don't have high-def...I'm just to cheap to spring for it. Besides, I personally don't see enough of a difference to make it that desirable, or necessary, for me to get it high-def. But like I said, I'm just cheap!
MITM, I am not sure how well 3D pornos would be. I am not so sure I would like seeing "all that" ;) I otherwise don't see the point of this yet. I agree with commentators about the availability of 3D TVs. However, how hard is it to create a fuzzy image and send that down the pipes?
It would be cool if our local movie theaters showed this broadcast in 3D on a few of their screens. I think people would pay to experience that.
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