ESPN 3D’s debut Friday (June 11) will include 3D commercials from Sony, Gillette and Disney/Pixar’s “Toy Story 3.”
The network will even premiere its own first-ever 3D commercial, trumpeting “SportsCenter,” even though that signature program will not be a part of ESPN 3D. SportsCenter anchor Stan Verrett and Los Angeles Dodgers Right Fielder Andrew Ethier are featured in the latest version of the popular “This is SportsCenter” series of spots, this one from creative agency Wieden + Kennedy showing the two in ESPN’s Los Angeles studios being a little too aggressive with batting practice as they check out Sony’s new 3D camera.
ESPN 3D is accepting only ads that are originally produced in 3D, not conversions from 2D.
The commercial from Sony, which is a sponsor of the 2010 World Cup debuting Friday and the first advertiser to sign on with ESPN 3D, will feature its new 3D HDTVs, announced Wednesday. Gillette created a 3D spot as part of their launch campaign for the new Fusion ProGlide Razor. The Disney/Pixar commercial touts “Toy Story 3,” which premieres in theaters in 3D starting June 18.
“We have interest from several of our clients to include ESPN 3D in their packages and we will do everything we can to accommodate them,” said Ed Erhardt, president, ESPN Customer Marketing and Sales.
— By Scott Hettrick