With box-office hits such as Avatar and Alice in Wonderland putting 3D entertainment on the map, it’s no wonder television manufacturers were quick to hop on the bandwagon. Several companies including LG, Sony, Samsung, Toshiba and Panasonic, have all announced their own versions of the 3D television, and TV networks, such as ESPN, have already announced fully 3D channels. However, all this excitement also brings concern. Will there be consumer demand? Will it be finically affordable? Is the world ready for 3D television? I don’t think so, and here’s why.

Why fix what’s not broken

Even though 3D television seems like the way of the future, it still begs the question; when did regular TV become boring and broken? To answer the rhetorical question, it hasn’t, and likely never will. As long as talented writers continue to make interesting content, people will keep watching. Why "cheapen" the experience with another gimmick. We don’t need to fix what’s not broken.

Other markets are still playing catch-up

While there’s no lack in 3D television sets, there is a shortage of available content to be used with those units. While television manufacturers have surged ahead in the 3D market, movie companies and TV networks have been left in the dust. There just isn’t that much content out there to fuel televisions sales. Without quality content, the market can’t sustain itself.

Expensive Technology

To put things simply, technology is expensive. The new 3D TV’s are no exception. With a price range noticeable above high-end LCD TV’s, it’s hard to see the general middle-class consumer buying in to it. Especially when the technology behind the product is just so new. Argue with me all you want, 3D technology has JUST recently began to be pursued. And while it has been around for quite some time, it has just begun to be implemented in the tech market. Only time will tell if consumers will buy in.

Final Thoughts

While there’s no doubt to whether or not 3D technology has the ability to be the next big thing, it really lies in the hands of the consumer. The 3D market could be huge: DVD’s, Blu-Ray discs, video games, designer 3D glasses, the list goes on. Only time will tell if 3D is the future, or one big flop.