Sources at both Channel 7 and Channel Nine have admitted that the 3D audiences for the first AFL Grand Final in Melbourne and the NRL Grand Final on Sunday in Sydney were “extremely small”. Both networks are refusing to release any official data on 3D viewing in Australia.
According to OzTam viewing data the AFL Grand Final which was sponsored by Panasonic outperformed the NRL Grand Final between St George and the Roosters.
Seven’s coverage of the AFL Grand Final repeat which went to air on Saturday saw an average five city audience of 2.683m Vs. an audience of 2.091m for the NRL Grand Final which was aired at 5.30pm on Sunday.
The drawn ALF Grand Final between St Kilda and Collingwood was shot in 3D using the new Panasonic 3D cameras.
Sources at Channel Nine in Sydney have told ChannelNews that “At this stage there is not a business model to support 3D sport in Australia”.
The reluctance of free to air networks to invest in 3D TV coverage could play into the hands of Foxtel and Telstra. Recently Foxtel announced a 3D channel that will rely on overseas 3D TV content from the likes of ESPN in the US and Sky in the UK.
On Friday Sky launched Europe’s first ever 3D channel with coverage of the Ryder Cup. However, the event was “washed out” by poor weather.
The new 3D channel does not cost anything additional to Foxtel customers who in the future will be able to watch Premier League Soccer and other major overseas sporting events.
TV stations executives claim that the biggest challenge before 3D channel is the lack of decent 3D content. When a cricket match gets called off because of rain or anything like that there is a no dearth of archive footage that can be replayed. But, 3D channel lacks this. Furthermore, some people do not like the wear special glasses that are essential to watch a TV programme in three dimensions.
On Sunday night I tried to watch the NRL Grand Final in 3D but after 20 minutes I resorted to 2D due to the irritation of having to wear glasses.
