About Futuresource Consulting

Futuresource Consulting, the specialist research and consulting company, is delighted to be the official knowledge partner for CEATEC JAPAN. The company can trace its roots back to the 1980s and provides market insights into consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, optical manufacturing, storage media, professional IT and education technology.
With more than 70 full-time employees providing in-depth analysis and forecasts across consumer and professional electronics categories, Futuresource is able to advise on market, competitive and technological developments, providing clients with access to the information that helps produce the best possible results.

Vol.192012/4/25

3D: The Positive Global Outlook Continues

The global outlook for 3D continues to be positive across the various entertainment platforms, according to a new strategic report from Futuresource Consulting.

Within the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China), 3D ticket sales have helped drive theatrical revenues to record breaking levels and have stimulated the installation of digital cinemas screens and multiplex cinemas, providing the framework for both short and long term growth. Collectively, the BRIC countries' theatrical revenues grew by close to $1 billion last year and - aided by 3D - China became the third largest and the fastest growing theatrical market in the world, with revenues more than doubling in two years.

Looking to 3D broadcasting, the technology continues to be an important platform for driving in-home 3D adoption and over the next six months further importance will be placed on the broadcast, as the London 2012 Olympics provides a key opportunity for pay TV operators to further boost 3D consumer uptake through advertising and promotion campaigns.

As a challenge for the whole industry, the lack of 3D content has been a stumbling block, but particularly for pay TV operators. Canal Plus (France) cited the limited availability of 3D content alongside slow subscriber uptake as the key factors behind the termination of its 3D linear channel. To help expand the availability of 3D content and entice consumers to their own branded 3D hardware, there has been an emergence of online 3D VoD content services from major CE manufacturers, particularly over the last three to six months. However, content is predominately limited to short form clips and trailers.

Although the 3D Blu-ray content offering remains limited, title availability is growing. Within the USA, close to 100 3D Blu-ray titles were widely available at the end of 2011, a sharp increase on the 19 that were available in 2010, and by the end of 2012, Futuresource estimates there will be 175 titles available in the US, with a further 105 expected to be released in 2013 boosting the total title availability to close to 300.

Titles will be a mixture of Hollywood and Independent Studio feature film releases alongside niche and documentary footage. Within Western Europe, more than 3 million homes were 3D Blu-ray capable in 2011 (households owing both a 3D TV and either a standalone 3D Blu-ray player or PS3). In 2012 this is expected to rise to nearly 9 million homes and by 2016 more than 40% of Western European homes will be 3D Blu-ray capable.

As we progress through 2012, strong growth is expected to be driven by the increased availability of 3D Blu-ray titles and key theatrical blockbusters such as Batman, Spiderman and The Hobbit. Futuresource forecasts show that US 3D Blu-ray title sales will exceed 11 million in 2012, accounting for nearly 10% of the total Blu-ray titles sold. By 2016, 3D Blu-ray is expected to represent nearly one in every four Blu-ray sales. In Western Europe, title sales are forecast to reach 8 million by the end of this year.