Panasonic and CBS Sports will expand the 3D coverage of next month’s US Open Tennis Championships to include matches from Louis Armstrong Stadium, the USTA announced this morning (Monday, Aug. 22).

CBS Sports will serve as the host broadcaster producing 3D versions of all Arthur Ashe Stadium matches that it broadcasts in HiDef both on Labor Day Weekend and on Finals Weekend, September 9-11.

Last year’s 3D production of the 2010 US Open Tennis Championships – the first world-wide 3D broadcast of a tennis major – was honored with a 2010 Emmy Award for technical achievement.

This year’s expanded 3D broadcast coverage will include new, 3D-specific positions designed by the telecast partners to provide the best 3D perspectives.  The action will be covered by ten 3D broadcast cameras and a high-speed 3D replay system.  A pre-production model of Panasonic’s new 3DP1 handheld Full HD 3D professional camcorder (available later this fall) will be used to provide match and grounds coverage for the telecast.  And the overall court coverage will again be based around the innovative 3D broadcast camera shadow rigs designed by the Cameron Pace Group and used last year.

Panasonic – which returns as the official 3D electronics sponsor and the official television of the US Open Championships, as well as sponsor of CBS Sports’ 2D and 3D US Open telecasts – will enable fans at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to experience the immersive world of 3D via public viewing galleries featuring the latest large-screen Viera Full HD 3D TVs.   These on-site Panasonic “Experience Amazing” exhibits will demonstrate a wide range of 3D programming including movies and live TV events.  They will also showcase Panasonic’s Viera Connect technology in web-connected TVs and Blu-ray Disc players, which feature Skype video calling, Facebook, Twitter and lots more.  The Panasonic “Experience Amazing” 3D exhibits can be found on the ground level of Louis Armstrong Stadium, at the Panasonic 3D Gaming Center within the SmashZone, and at the Panasonic VIERA Connect booth in the South Plaza in front of Court 10.

CBS Sports’ 3D telecasts of the 2011 US Open will again be available on DirecTV’s channel 103, “n/3D Powered by Panasonic.”  This year, Comcast will also carry the 3D broadcast coverage to its subscribers on Xfinity 3D, making CBS Sports coverage of the 2011 US Open available via the nation’s two largest multi-channel video providers. Distribution discussions with additional providers  are ongoing.  Additionally, the men’s and women’s finals will be streamed live in 3D on USOpen.org, the official website of the tournament.

“Working with our partners CBS Sports and Panasonic, we once again expect to be a leader in presenting our sport to fans in breathtaking new ways,” said USTA Harlan Stone, Chief Business and Communications Officer.  “Last year we saw the impressive production values for 3D television and now, by including Louis Armstrong Stadium and expanding our distribution, we are bringing this innovative new look to the sport to more people than ever before.”

“Panasonic is delighted to again be sponsoring the US Open Championships and bringing the passion and power of this premier tennis event in stunning 3D to TV screens across the country,” said Joseph M. Taylor, Chairman & CEO of Panasonic Corporation of North America.  “The tennis pros on the courts will be broadcast in 3D by sports production pros at our partner CBS, and with the USTA itself, we are thrilled to be back at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for this top event.”

“As we saw from last year, there may be no better sport to broadcast in 3D than tennis,” said Harold Byrant, Executive Producer & Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.  “With our additional cameras and enhanced camera positions, including low, court-level positions, viewers will feel like they’re actually on the court with some of the world’s greatest players.  CBS Sports is once again looking forward to using this groundbreaking technology during our coverage of the US Open Tennis Championships.”

The 3D broadcasts will use a separate production team and equipment from the traditional HiDef broadcasts of the tournament.  Plans call two special 3D production trucks and a unique 3D-dedicated CBS Sports broadcast team. CBS has designed and upgraded 3D broadcast camera placements lower to the court than traditional TV locations in order to capture the close-up and personal, athletic dimension of tennis that make 3D such a powerful experience.

Away from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Panasonic and DirecTV will also provide the live CBS Sports 3D broadcasts of the US Open semi-final and final matches to hundreds of TV retail outlets nationwide, including scores of Best Buy stores.

– By Scott Hettrick

Apparently few people were interested in seeing Fox’s concert movie version of the TV series “Glee,” in 3D or otherwise, as the highly-touted movie did not even make the top 10 most popular movies in its opening weekend with just $5.7 mil.

More filmgoers were interested in seeing the latest round of grisly deaths in 3D in Warner’s “Final Destination 5,” spending $18.5 mil. domestically, including IMAX 3D theaters.

Meanwhile, three other 3D movies remained in the top 10, including another strong outing of $13.5 mil.  for Sony Animation’s “The Smurfs,” surpassing the $100 million mark after three weeks in domestic theaters, and another $60 mil. this week overseas for a global to-date total of $242 million, according to Hollywood.com Box Office.
Paramount’s “Captain America: The First Avenger” picked up another $7.1 mil, for a total domestic take of $157, and Warner’s “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″ rounded up another $6.9 mil. to move to $357 mil.

– By Scott Hettrick

Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. has announced long-term Virtual Print Fee deployment agreements with each of three industry leading Minnesota-based theatre chains — Cinema Entertainment Corp. (CEC), United Entertainment Corporation and Mann Theatres of Minnesota.
The deal means Cinedigm digital systems will be added to 340 screens where the company has already been delivering service by Cinedigm’s in-theatre advertising company, UniqueScreen Media.
The agreement will enable the conversion of these theatres to digital cinema under the terms of Cinedigm’s long-term Virtual Print Fee (VPF) agreements with all the major studios.  Cinedigm will provide installation and implementation coordination and support with each company’s equipment and service providers and the ongoing administration management responsibility of the VPF program.

Cinedigm’s system will enable the theatres to provide consumers all-new digital entertainment options, including high quality live, 3D and alternative content programming.
The rollout comprises 340 screens and is expected to be completed by early 2012.   Included in the deployment:
* Cinema Entertainment Corp. with 137 screens
* United Entertainment Corp. with 124 screens
* Mann Theatres, Inc. with 79 screens

Each of the three exhibitors ordered select models of NEC Display Solutions Digital Cinema projectors, including the NC1200, NC2000, NC3200S and NC3240S models, for almost all of their screens.  GDC Technology will provide the cinema servers.
Ballantyne Strong, Inc. will provide installation services, warranty and service support, monitoring the health of each projector in the system from its network operations center.

“We took our time looking at all our options for our digital cinema program because it is a long term commitment and investment in our future,” said Robert Ross, President, CEC Theatres. “We are confident we have made the right decision in selecting Cinedigm to work with to be part of that long term commitment to bring the quality and the new programming opportunities that digital cinema enables to our valued movie going customers.”

“We are certain that in choosing Cinedigm we have made the best choice for United Entertainment for our digital cinema deployment program,” said Michael Ross, President of UEC.  “We look forward to taking full advantage of everything Cinedigm has to offer, including the highest quality digital cinema and unique alternative programming.”

“Mann Theatres prides itself on offering its customers the highest quality entertainment,” said Stephen Mann, President of Mann Theatres.  “Utilizing Cinedigm’s services and technology will enable us to continue our mission to provide moviegoers with a tremendous visual experience as well as enhance our overall entertainment value.”

“It has been a pleasure working with each of these three exhibitors throughout the deal process,” said Gary Loffredo, Cinedigm’s General Counsel and corporate Senior Vice President Business Affairs. “We look forward to developing even more opportunities with them utilizing the full menu of Cinedigm digital applications featuring our software and alternative content programming.”

“We have great respect for each of these exhibitors which we have known for many years as partners of our screen advertising division, Unique Screen Media,” said Chuck Goldwater, President, Media Services Group.

Cinedigm is also the digital cinema integrator partner for the Cinema Buying Group (“CBG”), a buying program of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) for independent theatre operators in the United States and Canada.
In the combined Phase One and Phase Two digital cinema deployment program, Cinedigm is responsible for deploying nearly 33% of all digital cinema screens in North America, including:

* Signed 9,400+ screens overall
* Installed over to 6,700 digital screens

– By Scott Hettrick

Despite some negative media coverage that would indicate 3D is losing favor with filmgoers, worldwide box-office revenue from 3D screens more than doubled last year to $6.1 billion (19.3%), up from $2.5 bil. (8.6%) in 2009, according to an IHS Screen Digest Cinema Intelligence report.
An increasing number of 3D film releases and 3D screens, and fast-growing 3D acceptance overseas accounted for most of the increase. International territories accounted for 65% of the total ($3.9 bil.), up substantially from 54% in 2009 ($1.4 bil.).
The fastest-growing territory for 3D is Japan, second biggest overall with titles such as “Avatar,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Toy Story 3,” and the Japanese film “Umizaru 3: The Last Message.”
The percentage of 3D tickets sold in in North America dropped from 42.3% to 36.1% but is still the largest single 3D market with gross ticket sales of $2 bil.
And the U.S. remains by far the biggest supplier of 3D film releases, accounting for 90% of worldwide 3D box-office revenue, according to Charlotte Jones, senior analyst for cinema at IHS.

– By Scott Hettrick

Bow Tie Cinemas is working exclusively with MasterImage 3D to supply MI-2100 digital 3D systems and polarized 3D eyewear as the family-owned movie theater company with 20 locations and 169 screens throughout Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, New York and Colorado converts its systems from film to digital.

The enhanced business relationship between MasterImage 3D and Bow Tie will bring MasterImage 3D systems to several of Bow Tie’s flagship theaters in markets such as Richmond, VA, Annapolis, MD, New Haven, Stamford and Norwalk, CT.

“MasterImage’s systems offer the highest level of picture quality and clarity to our moviegoers in a 3D cinematic experience,” said Ben Moss, Owner of Bow Tie.  “Their combination of cutting-edge, unsurpassed technology and a sensible, well-executed business model made working with MasterImage on our 3D Cinema Deployment an easy and obvious decision.”

The MasterImage MI-2100 digital 3D cinema system offers high-quality presentation, single-or multi-use eyewear, is easily portable between screens and is available through an ownership-based pricing model.  The MasterImage MI-1000 glass filters are universal and work optimally with MasterImage 3D glasses for oversized screen installations.

Supported by all six major Hollywood studios and many independent distributors, MasterImage 3D systems are installed in over 70 countries worldwide.  This increased commitment from Bow Tie Cinemas continues MasterImage 3D recent global expansion including announcements with Cinema City International, Les Cinemas Gautmont Pathe, TOHO Cinemas and Kinepolis Group.

“Bow Tie Cinemas is one of the most respected and knowledgeable circuits in the United States,” said Peter Koplik, President Digital Cinema, MasterImage 3D.  “Like many cinema owners around the world, the Moss family trusts our technology and business offering as they expand their commitment to premium quality 3D presentation.”

– By Scott Hettrick