LG partners with Skylife to set 3D broadcasting content standards

It has been announced today that LG Electronics went into partnership with Korea Digital Satellite Broadcasting (SkyLife) to set standards in 3D broadcasting content, devices and technologies. LG announced Korea’s first 3D LCD TV in August 2009 and SkyLife will run a second trial of 3D broadcasting in January next year after airing earlier trial 3D content from October. LG will focus on extending the initiative in North America and Europe from 2010 and will launch 3D TVs in South and Central American and Asia from 2011. The market is expected to expand worldwide as the London 2012 Olympics are currently slated to be aired in 3D.

”LG is the first TV manufacturer in the world to cooperate with a digital satellite broadcaster to map the standards for 3D images ranging from technologies, to devices and broadcasting content,” said Dr. Woo Paik, President and Chief Technology Officer at LG Electronics. “The partnership will focus on developing technology that helps produce 3D images that don’t cause eye strain or dizziness – an issue that has plagued previous technologies.”

LG plans to introduce a wide range of 3D TVs ranging in size from 42- to 72-inches next year, following the 47-inch LCD 3D TV (47LH503D) this year. The company also plans to include 3D functionality in its flagship models for next year. The new series features an ultra-slim bezel which is expected to maximize the 3D effect. LG’s 3D technology will also find its way into 150-inch projectors in the coming year.

LG has been committed to bringing active TVs that only require shutter glasses to experience 3D images, as well as the passive models that include a filter over the screen. In addition, LG has developed a chipset to handle various types of 3D broadcast signals and continues to develop correcting technology that automatically controls the brightness of overlapped parts on each eye to ensure optimum 3D images.

“SkyLife aims to be the top digital satellite 3D broadcaster in Korea. We expect the partnership between LG and SkyLife to propel us to the lead in digital new media. We plan to invest KRW 30 billion (USD 25 million) in creating 3D content in collaboration with LG,” said Mong-ryong Lee, President and CEO at SkyLife.

Both LG and SkyLife have agreed to invest in creating 3D content. Starting with 3D broadcasting for the FIS Snowboard World Cup, both will continuously produce or distribute 3D content from sport to educational programs and movies from overseas.

We never wanted to write about 3D television technology that still requires glasses to be worn in order to see the 3D image clearly, since we believed some other emerging technologies (as the 3D TV from Zero Creative) could be sufficient for home usage.

The LG’s 3D TV glasses aren’t used as a help for creating an optical illusion for your left and right eye as in 1950s-style red and green glasses, but rather glasses that reduce the eye fatigue caused by image flickering. It is achieved by polarized-lens which gives 3D content a smooth animation without flickering. Let’s hope the companies will be able to merge these two technologies, enabling us to choose weather we would like to see 3D objects by looking at the display from different angles or watch 3D movies or other content by wearing glasses.