SHANE BUETTNER BLOG

Yes, 3D is upon us and with it has come a surprising promotional turn of events. To grab your 3D dollars TV manufacturers are lining up as many hot titles as exclusives as they can get their hands on, including four of the hottest 3D titles of the holiday shopping season: Avatar, Alice in Wonderland, How to Train Your Dragon, and Shrek Forever After (and really, how far behind can an announcement be for a 3D exclusive on Toy Story 3?). All of these Blu-ray 3D titles, and others, can only be obtained by consumers who buy a 3DTV and Blu-ray 3D player in a bundle from certain manufacturers.

My own impression of this practice is not favorable. Reminds me of a mini version of the format war, which alienated consumers to no end. But I’m curious for your take on this. Are you more likely to go with Panasonic so you can get Avatar on Blu-ray 3D? Do you like that Samsung set a little more if you can get your hands on How to Train Your Dragon and/or Shrek? Or does the whole practice make you want to wait another generation or two when buy whatever 3DTV you want when you’re able to buy your Blu-ray 3D titles on the open market? Or, do you not care as much about Blu-ray 3D as you getting ESPN and other sporting events in lower resolution 3D?