Future of Sports: 3D in Theaters

Kevin Maney adds a new dimension: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban gave a presentation to the FCC about the future of digital media, and his number one point -- obviously a little self-serving, but it wouldn't be Cuban if it wasn't -- was that people will be able to go to a movie theater and watch a major sporting event in 3D.

Crazy talk? Not at all. We're going to see a lot of experiments in this realm over the next couple of years. As I wrote about in Portfolio, movie theaters are increasingly installing expensive equipment that will let them show digital 3D films. Theaters will be looking for ways to make extra money on that investment.

Meanwhile, Pace Technologies has been developing live-action 3D cameras chiefly for Hollywood. Pace cameras were used to shoot Journey to the Center of the Earth, and right now are shooting James Cameron's upcoming 3D movie, Avatar. As it turns out, the cameras can also shoot live events in 3D.

Earlier this year, I visited Pace and saw a demo -- and it truly is a different experience from seeing a game on 2D television. It's not like seeing it live, either, but something different and interesting. As the Pace folks explained, for instance, they discovered that constant cutting to different shots -- a TV staple -- isn't necessary in 3D. It seems better to let the camera take in the full-court action. Viewers feel a little like they're watching from halfway up the arena seats.

Cuban experimented with showing a Mavericks playoff game in a theater and the NBA tried a closed-circuit 3D broadcast of the 2007 all-star game, showing it to only 600 people in a Las Vegas theater.

But there are high hopes in both sports and the theater industry around this. Imagine the local theater showing the Super Bowl in 3D, or the World Cup soccer finals. I'd go.