AUDIO VIDEO NEWS

Panasonic has signed a deal with 20th Century Fox to exclusively offer the Blu-ray 3D version of Avatar to customers who buy Panasonic 3D plasma HDTVs. The specifics of the deal or Panasonic's plans haven't been announced, but they will likely involve bundling Avatar with Panasonic 3D HDTVs and possibly 3D-enabled Blu-ray players and other equipment. Nothing has been confirmed besides the deal itself.

Distribution deals are really a matter of perspective. If you're ridiculously optimistic, Panasonic HDTV buyers are getting the great boon of being able to get the Blu-ray 3D of Avatar early. If you're pessimistic (or realistic), everyone who doesn't buy a Panasonic HDTV will have to wait an undisclosed amount of time before they can get the 3D version of the film. Factually, both perspectives are true, but in the end it simply seems like the majority of Avatar fans are getting shafted.

- Will Greenwald

[Source: TWICE via CrunchGear]