(Official box art for first movie-only Blu-ray edition of "Avatar" on April 22 in North America.)

Sources at Fox confirmed a story in the Los Angeles Times that a second multi-disc version will be released in November with lots of extras but still no 3D. The April 22 edition will include nothing aside from the movie, not even a trailer.

Producer Jon Landau says this was a joint agreeement by the filmmakers and Fox to maximize literally every bit of space on the disc for optimum picture and audio quality. “Everything that is put on a disc takes up room — the menus, the extras, the trailers and studio promotions — and we got rid of all of that so we could give this movie the best picture and sound possible,” he told the Times.

“Avatar” far surpassed director James Cameron’s “Titanic” as the top-grossing film of all-time with $2.6 billion in global boxoffice.

– By Scott Hettrick

Following is a list of release dates in other countries:

FRANCE – April 21                     BELGIUM – April 21
NETHERLANDS – April 21                SPAIN – April 21
CHINA – April 22                    BRAZIL – April 22
RUSSIA – April 22                    NORTH AMERICA – April 22
GERMANY – April 23                JAPAN – April 23
SWITZERLAND – April 23                 MEXICO – April 23
UK – April 26                     DENMARK – April 27
NORWAY – April 28                    SWEDEN – April 28
NEW ZEALAND – April 28                AUSTRALIA – April 29
FINLAND – April 30                    ITALY – May 6

Panasonic has teamed up with NVIDIA for the new software that allows any computer-based videogame to be displayed in stereoscopic 3D. It is expected to be available around June at a price point anticipated at less than $50.

The debut was part of Panasonic’s kickoff off a five-week 15-city  tour of new 3D and HiDef products. 3DHollywood.net /HollywoodInHiDef.com spoke with Panasonic exec Jeff Samuels about the tour in L.A. at the Hollywood and Highland Theater (video below) and with a rep from Nvidia which has partnered with Panasonic to deliver any videogame in 3D on Panasonic displays (separate video below).
Story continues below the following videos.

Panasonic’s full 1080p HD 3D TVs and Blu-ray players are available now exclusively at Best Buy stores via Magnolia Home Theater.

The total combined SRP of the Panasonic Full HD 3D Plasma Home Theater System components is $2899.99. The system consists of a 50-inch class Panasonic VIERA VT20 Plasma 3D HDTV (TC-P50VT20 – SRP $2,499.95) which includes one pair of Panasonic 3D Active Shutter Lens Eyewear (TY-EW3D10U), and the Panasonic BDT300 3D Blu-ray Disc Player (DMP-BDT300 – SRP 399.95). Additional pairs of 3D eyewear will be available with an SRP of $149.95. The individual components of the system will also be sold separately.

A schedule of the next cities on the tour is below and at the Panasonic web site and Panasonic’s website of 3D products.

– By Scott Hettrick

Tour Dates & Locations

3/15 – 3/17         New York                      Penn Pavilion – 401 7th Ave at 33rd St

3/15 – 3/17         Chicago                        Tribune 445 – 445 S. Michigan Avenue

3/15 – 3/17         Los Angeles                  Hollywood and Highland – 801 Hollywood Boulevard

3/20 – 3/22         Boston                          Copley Place – 2 Copley Place

3/22 – 3/24         Detroit                           Detroit Opera House – 1526 Broadway

3/22 – 3/24         Scottsdale                     Fashion Square Mall – 7014 East Camelback Road

3/25 – 3/27         Philadelphia                   King of Prussia Mall – North Gulph Road

3/29 – 3/31         Minneapolis                   IDS Tower – 80 8th Street South

3/29 – 3/31         San Francisco               One Market Plaza – 1 Market Street

3/31 – 4/2          Washington, DC            Union Station – 50 Massachusetts Ave, NE

4/6 – 4/8            Dallas                           Grapevine Mills Mall – 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway

4/6 – 4/8            Seattle                          Top of the Market – 93 Pike Street, Suite 307

4/7 – 4/9            Atlanta                          595 North – 595 North Ave, NW Atlanta

4/12 – 4/14         Houston                        The Warehouse – 4108 Dupont Street

4/15 – 4/17         Miami                           Ice Palace – 59 Northwest 14th Street

Here are highlights from the official Panasonic media release:

The Panasonic Touch the Future Tour features hands-on demonstrations of Panasonic’s 2010 cutting-edge products and features including Full HD 3D Plasma Home Entertainment Systems,  flat panel VIERA Plasma, , LCD and LED HDTVs; Blu-ray Disc Players, Home Theater Systems; and LUMIX Digital Cameras and Camcorders.  Highlights of the Tour include:

* Experience VIERA Full HD 3D Home Theater – Visitors to the Panasonic Touch the Future Tour will be able to experience the world of 3D for the home with Panasonic’s award-winning Full HD 3D Home Theater System featuring the VIERA VT25 Full HD 3D Plasma TV, the BDT350 3D Blu-ray Disc Player and Panasonic Active Shutter Eyewear.  Panasonic Full HD 3D Home Theater Systems are now available at select Best Buy Magnolia Home Theater stores.

* See the World’s First Commercial 3D Television Channels – Panasonic will be the exclusive presenting sponsor of DIRECTV’s new HD 3D channels set to debut in June 2010.  Demonstrations of the channels, which will deliver movies, sports and entertainment content from some of the world’s most renowned 3D producers will be on display at Panasonic Touch the Future Tour events.  DIRECTV’s HD 3D channels, powered by Panasonic, will offer a 24/7 3D DIRECTV Cinema and pay per view event channel focused on movies, documentaries and other programming, a 24/7 3D DIRECTV On Demand channel and a free 3D entertainment channel featuring event programming such as sports, music and other content.

* Test Drive 3D Gaming – Computer graphics innovator NVIDIA will debut NVIDIA 3DTV PlayTM, a software solution that allows consumers to connect their GeForce® GPU-powered desktop or notebook computer to new 3D TVs, for the ultimate in big screen 3D gaming action. For the launch of 3DTV Play, NVIDIA  is teaming up with Panasonic on the Panasonic Touch the Future Tour, where visitors can test drive 3DTV Play-based PCs running on Panasonic’s new VIERA® Full HD 3D TVs.

* Connect with Skype-enabled HDTVs – Panasonic and Skype are taking VIERA HDTVs to a whole new level of connectivity in 2010 with Skype on Your TV.  Visitors will see demos about how select Panasonic 2010 VIERA HDTVs will enable you to place free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls, make calls to landline or mobile phones at Skype’s low rates, receive inbound calls via a user’s online Skype number, access Skype voicemail, participate in voice conference calls with up to 24 other parties.

* Explore and Share with VIERA CAST IPTVs – Explore Panasonic’s VIERA CASTTM enabled HDTVs which give owners access thousands of television and movie titles, share photos and videos with family and friends, make video calls, listen to their favorite musical artists, and stay up-to-date with the latest sports news and information.  In 2010, VIERA CAST-enabled HDTVs will feature wireless connectivity and add new features such as Netflix®, Twitter™, Skype™, Pandora®, and Fox Sports to an existing list of features which includes Amazon Video On Demand™, Google’s YouTube™, Picasa™ Web Albums, Bloomberg and weather services.

* Capture Your Memories – Learn about the intuitive features on Panasonic’s range of easy- to-use Camcorders and LUMIX Digital Cameras.  See how simple it is to take great photos and videos and share the with family and friends right on your HDTV and online via VIERA CAST.  Tour visitors will also be able to meet professional photographers from the LUMIX Digital Photo Academy to learn tips on how to take the perfect picture.  Visit www.panasonic.com/future for specific dates and times to meet professional photographers in each city.

* Join the Full HD 3D World – Panasonic’s Touch the Future Tour Sweepstakes* will award one lucky visitor (18 years of age or older as of 3/15/10) in each of the 15 cities on the Tour a Full HD 3D Home Theater System featuring a Panasonic Full HD 3D VIERA Plasma HDTV, Panasonic 3D Blu-ray Disc Player and one pair of Panasonic Active Shutter Eyewear.

The news follows last week’s announcement by CBS that the network would also broadcast the Final Four in 3D for the first time.

Sony, which already experimented with taping its own Sony Open in Hawai’i in 3D in January, will sponsor 3D coverage of The Masters from April 7-11 and serve as an industry expert as well as supply 3D cameras and TVs for the ESPN production that will be separate from the regular CBS and ESPN coverage. Multiple 3D cameras placed strategically throughout the course will offer perspectives never before seen of Augusta National.

Comcast will distribute the programming free on a dedicated channel to its HD cable customers in the U.S. with 3D-enabled TVs while Comcast and IBM, the Tournament’s technology partner, will combine efforts to offer the 3D feed via www.masters.com for consumers with 3D-enabled monitors and media players.

Augusta National Golf Club will oversee 10 hours of 3-D coverage of all four rounds from the back nine, including two hours of live afternoon 3D coverage each day beginning during Wednesday’s Par 3 Contest on April 7 and continuing throughout the four Tournament rounds, Thursday, April 8 – Sunday, April 11.

“Utilizing this technology marks another important milestone in allowing our at-home patrons to better experience the beauty of our course and excitement of our tournament,” Augusta National Chair Billy Payne said in a statement. “We consider ourselves fortunate to be a leader in providing this technology, thanks in large part to our valuable partners who share in our commitment to deliver a meaningful and memorable viewing experience.”

According to a media release, The Masters introduced its first HD production in 1993 and became the first golf tournament presented live in HD on network television in 2000.

Prior to The Masters, the two NCAA semifinal basketball games on April 3, as well as the national title game on April 5, will be broadcast in 3-D on special televisions at Lucas Oil Stadium — the site of this year’s Final Four — and in up to 100 Cinedigm digital cinemas nationwide.

Those productions will be separate from the regular CBS broadcast as well, including announcers specific to the 3D broadcast, Dave Ryan and Steve Lappas of CBS College Sports Network.

“We are excited to be able to present Men’s Final Four weekend in 3-D offering fans an exciting and different way to view a major sporting event,” said Ken Aagaard, the executive vice president of operations and engineering for CBS Sports.

Cinedigm also broadcast the 2009 BCS national championship game and the NBA All-Star Saturday events in 3-D as well.

– By Scott Hettrick

In a wide-ranging interview with USA Today, he also says he is prepping “Titanic” for a 2012 release in 3D, may delay the 3D Blu-ray home release of “Avatar” in favor of a theatrical re-release this fall with additional footage, and warns filmmakers and studios that he will take legal action if anyone tries to use technology he used in “Avatar” without his permission.

Cameron says studios are only looking at the opportunity to make more money from 3D rather than doing it properly. “They ignore the fact that we natively authored the film in 3D, and decide that what we accomplished in several years of production could be done in an eight week (post-production 3D) conversion with ‘Clash of the Titans.’ ”

He says it takes 6 months to a year to properly convert a 2D movie to 3D, not the eight weeks for “Clash.”

“If people put bad 3D in the marketplace they’re going to hold back or even threaten the emerging of 3D. People will be confused by differences in quality.”

Cameron also said consumer electronics companies offering 3D TVs and Blu-ray players should only align themselves with filmmakers and studios who do 3D right. “They need to say, ‘if were going to associate ourselves with certain kinds of content, that content has to not make our (3D televisions) look bad.’  Because the audience doesn’t know the difference — when they put on the glasses on, they don’t know if the problem is in the glasses, the TV or the actual way in which the stereo space is managed by the producers of the film.”

Although he says “Avatar” could be released to 3D Blu-ray this fall, that will depend on the outcome of current discussions to try to regain the money left on the table when “Avatar” was pushed out of most 3D theaters last weekend by “Alice in Wonderland” by re-releasing “Avatar” in theaters this fall with additional footage.

As for protecting patents he obtained on 3D technology, Cameron said, “We figured this stuff out empirically six or seven years ago and we patented it.  If people try to do it the way we’ve done it on Avatar they’ll get a phone call.”
He is still considering making licenses available to his technologies “or we’ll be in the suing people business for a long time.”

– By Scott Hettrick

The overall record, which represents a whopping 10% increase (about $960 million) from 2008 is clearly entirely attributable to 3D, which accounted for 11% of the overall, or nearly $1.2  billion.

The 11% share came from only 20 movies in 3D, representing just 2% of the total releases. But 20 was more than double the eight 3D movies released in 2008.

Overall ticket sales were up 5.5%, the first increase in two years.

3D also sparked an 86% jump in digital cinema screens, 7,000 of which were added, bringing the worldwide total to 16,000, with digital 3D digital screens tripling to 8989 worldwide and 6% of overall screens, the fastest growth category in that sector.

“Digital technology is the foundation on which 3D has been built,” said Bob Pisano, president and interim John Fithian, president and interim CEO of MPAA. “Together digital presentation and 3D hold the promise of a dramatic game change in moviemaking and movie-going.”

Blobal boxoffice rose 7.6% to a record $29.9 billion.

– By Scott Hettrick

The package will include a 50-inch Viera plasma TV(TC-P50VT20 – SRP $2,499.95), a 3D Blu-ray player (DMP-BDT300 – SRP 399.95), and a single pair of active shutter lens glasses (TY-EW3D10U). Additional pairs of 3D eyewear will be available with an SRP of $149.95.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs will be the first 3D Blu-ray title from Fox.

In voicing support for the Panasonic 3D system, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment executive VP, marketing Mary Daily announced that the studio’s first 3D Blu-ray title will be “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.”

Sources say the title will be bundled with Panasonic product beginning in April.

“Panasonic has announced amazing new products today and along with Best Buy’s commitment to the format, 3D will become a game changer for the home entertainment industry,” Daily said.

– By Scott Hettrick

Highlights of the rest of the official media release:

By delivering a full 1080p-resolution image to each eye, Panasonic’s Full HD 3D technology offers consumers the highest possible visual experience. To enjoy Full HD 3D programming, users wear a lightweight pair of active-shutter eyewear.  The sets are also Full HD TVs that display pristine 1080p content in two dimensions (2D) for conventional HD viewing.

“Television has successfully moved from black and white, to color, to High Definition. But immersive, totally realistic 3D imagery has been the final frontier and beginning today, Panasonic has conquered that as well,” said Bob Perry, Senior Vice President, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Best Buy has been a proactive and important partner in bringing 3D into the living rooms of America and we are happy to share this milestone with them.”

“The demand for 3D technology in the home is just beginning for consumers,” said Michael Vitelli, President, Americas, Best Buy. “

The VT20 is a Best Buy exclusive model and is equivalent to the VT25 series that was voted “Best of Show” at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show.  The BDT300 is also a Best Buy exclusive model and is equivalent to the BDT350 which received the Consumer Electronics Association’s esteemed Innovations Award for its innovative 3D technology.

In addition to the 50-inch class size, the Panasonic Full HD 3D Home Theater System will also be available in a 54-inch class (54” measured diagonally), 58” class (58” measured diagonally) and 65” class (64.8” measured diagonally) screen sizes with suggested retail pricing and availability to be announced at a later date.

To create the best possible 3D picture, Panasonic has developed new, faster screen phosphors; coupled with its 600Hz sub-field drive, the new displays output alternating imagery at 60 frames per second to each eye. The brain then combines the images and interprets them as 3D.

The BDT300 outputs stunning, rock-solid, and immersive Full HD 3D imagery to compatible displays.  It also handles a wide variety of audio standards, and up converts all standard definition video formats. The BDT300 utilizes groundbreaking technologies incorporated in Panasonic’s proprietary UniPhier LSI chip, enabling the player to flawlessly process the large quantity of visual information necessary to create a Full HD 3D image in 1920 x 1080 resolution. Adaptive Chroma Upsampling insures that colors will be faithfully reproduced; and all native digital DVD formats are up scaled to 1080p resolution quality.

Panasonic’s Full HD 3D products meet the recently announced Blu-ray 3D™ specification standard.  This standard, which represents the work of leading Hollywood studios and consumer electronic and computer manufacturers, enables the home entertainment industry to bring the 3D experience into consumers’ living rooms on Blu-ray Disc, the most capable high definition home entertainment platform. Individual manufacturers and content providers will now be able to provide the technical information and guidelines necessary to develop and bring products to market.

In January, DIRECTV and Panasonic announced a strategic relationship that will make it possible to bring 3D TV into the homes of millions for the first time. DIRECTV’s HD 3D channels, powered by Panasonic, will offer a 24/7 3D DIRECTV Cinema and pay per view event channel focused on movies, documentaries and other programming, a 24/7 3D DIRECTV on Demand channel and a free 3D entertainment channel featuring event programming such as sports, music and other content. In addition, to celebrate the launch of Panasonic’s Full HD 3D Home Theater System, DIRECTV is giving the first customer to purchase the system at today’s Best Buy launch event in New York one year of free programming, including its upcoming HD 3D service, which will be available this June.

“The superior quality of the HD 3D programming that DIRECTV will debut in June will be unlike anything that is available in the television market today,” said Eric Shanks, executive vice president of DIRECTV Entertainment.  “Being able to experience that quality through Panasonic’s Full HD 3D home theater system will make our customers feel like their living room is a 3D movie theater. We have had a long- time relationship with both Panasonic and Best Buy and we are proud to be partnering with these industry leaders to make the next frontier of television a reality.”

To bring the excitement of Full HD 3D and Panasonic’s range of home entertainment solutions to consumers, Panasonic will launch a 15-city, Panasonic Touch The Future nationwide tour next week.  The tour will kick off in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles beginning March 15 and then visit Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Miami, San Francisco, Phoenix, Seattle, Detroit, Minneapolis, Dallas and Houston in March and April.

Samsung will be releasing the Shrek series in 3D for Blu-ray this year.

Samsung’s official announcement of the launch of its full HD 3D LED TV and lineup of 3D home entertainment products worldwide also included word of an expansion of its strategic alliance with DreamWorks to feature an exclusive offering of the Shrek film series in its entirety in 3D for the first time ever.

As previously reported, Samsung’s promotional program will allow everyone who purchases a 2010 Samsung 3D TV and 3D Blu-ray Player or Home Theater System to will receive a 3D starter kit that includes two pairs of Samsung 3D active glasses and a first time, feature-length 3D Blu-ray version of DreamWorks Animation’s 2009 release, “Monsters vs. Aliens” (exclusive to Samsung products). Additionally, during the second half of 2010, the most successful animated film franchise of all time — DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek film series, with more than $2 billion in worldwide boxoffice — will be available in 3D Blu-ray for Samsung home solutions.

Cnet reports that Samsung’ UNC7000 3D TV series is currently going for around $2,350 at Amazon for the 46-inch model ($2,600 MSRP).

Samsung’s larger 55-inch 3D TV costs about $3,000 at Amazon ($3,300 MSRP) while the 40-incher is being listed by online retailers at about $1,800 ($2,000 MSRP). The 3D-ready BD-C6900 Blu-ray player is under $400 and the SD-2100AB 3D active shutter glasses are about $150.

Panasonic, which makes its official announcement tomorrow, Wednesday, is expected to price its 50-inch 3D Viera at about $2,500, and $3,000 for a bundle that includes the DMP-BDT350 Blu-ray player and a pair of glasses.

Sony hasn’t mentioned pricing for its line-up that arrives June 10. LG is expected in mid-May. Vizio is the only other maker to announce pricing for its 3D products coming in August that start at $1,999.

– By Scott Hettrick

The rest of the official Samsung media release:

“Samsung has been the number one company in the global TV market for four straight years, and we remain committed to leading the market by deploying new categories of entertainment like Full HD 3D LED TVs, on which consumers around the world will be able to enjoy their favorite content, including DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek franchise, in their homes,” said Boo-Keun Yoon, President of Visual Display Business Unit at Samsung Electronics. “With the widest range of options for 3D home solutions ever, Samsung continues to lead the home entertainment industry by liberating 2D content to 3D, and creating new, immersive experiences for consumers.”

“We are thrilled to be able to offer audiences the exciting opportunity to bring the world and characters of all of our Shrek movies home with them this year in 3D,” said Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chief Executive Officer of DreamWorks Animation.

The news was delivered at Samsung’s Full HD 3D LED TV global launch press conference held in New York City today, one of several global events this week created by the company to invite influencers and consumers to enjoy all the capabilities of Samsung’s 3D technology leadership.

Global Product Availability

Samsung will launch the broadest line of 3D home entertainment products in 2010. Its 3D TV lineup includes the LED 7000/8000/9000 Series, LCD 750 Series, and the Plasma 7000/8000 Series. Available this month are the 3D capable 46″ and 55″ LED C7000, with the remaining 3D TVs rolling out over the next several months. Samsung is delivering 3D the way it was meant to be watched, combining the Samsung BD-C6900 3D Blu-ray player or the Samsung HT-C6930W 3D Blu-ray integrated home theater system, stylish 3D active glasses and movie in Blu-ray 3D. The result: Full HD with lifelike depth and color clarity at home.

First to Market Full HD 3D LED TV Raises Bar for TV Excellence

This year’s premium LED TV models, the C7000, C8000 and C9000, feature Samsung’s Real240Hz(TM) refresh rate technology and Samsung’s proprietary built-in 3D processor that is compatible with major 3D format standards. Samsung’s 3D technology and a faster panel optimized for 3D work together to deliver an immersive viewing experience. When not in the 3D mode, you’re back to watching one of the best performing HDTVs on the market with the push of a button.

The LED TVs come with Internet@TV connectivity which includes the world’s first HDTV app store, Samsung Apps, allowing users to download and view applications on their TV screens. The 3D LED TVs are also the highest performing and most eco-conscious HDTV products Samsung has ever released, all exceeding the more stringent EnergyStar 4.0 guidelines.

Taking the Wonder of 3D to people’s home

In the US, Samsung is launching a holistic marketing campaign under the name “Dedicated to Wonder,” a high-profile marketing effort that includes television advertising and the first 3D Cinema advertising (Spot?) for a consumer electronics brand. Samsung assembled an elite production crew, including the Oscar-winning director of photography, Mauro Fiore, and is bringing the wonder of the 3D experience to life with this new marketing campaign. New commercials will begin hitting the air this week, highlighting Samsung’s 3D technology and the wonder it brings to the home entertainment experience.

Samsung’s in-store display plan is also key to exposing consumers to the technology and educating them on the value of 3D. Samsung’s internal research shows that while awareness of 3D technology is high, less than a third of consumers have had any experience with it. For this reason, Samsung is strengthening marketing activities in an effort to make it easier for consumers to experience 3D. In 2010, consumers can expect to experience this immersive experience in more than 5,000 stores across the nation. Displays will start being deployed later in the month.

As Samsung and Panasonic prepare major media announcements in New York on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, about their 3D products hitting stores this month, reports have begun to surface that Samsung’s 3D Blu-ray players already in Best Buy stores do not work.

Not that the average consumer would notice since there are no 3D Blu-ray movies on the market yet but industry insiders have told 3DHollywood.net that the players were recently tested with 3D Blu-ray movies compliant with industry standards that are being prepared for market and that they do not work at all in the Samsung players. That could mean Samsung may have to recall or modify their players.

Sources say that Samsung’s players have come to market before the Blu-ray Disc Association has issued its final certification specs for the industry standard that the organization announced in December.
Any products released now by a company not intimately engaged in the day-to-day tweaks and revisions of the format will simply be guessing at the final approved standard. Apparently Samsung guessed wrong.

A spokesperson for Samsung responded to an inquiry from 3DHollywood.net admitting that Samsung is “in the process of finalizing full certification at the authorized testing center” and that “the next step is for the BDA to release official test discs based on the new 3D specification, which Samsung will use to confirm certification.”

“Samsung is fully committed to upholding all technology standards issued by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA). Samsung’s 3D Blu-ray player has passed all the BDA Blu-ray 3D verification tests issued to date…
“Samsung is confident that the new 3D Blu-ray player will pass certification once the process is complete.”

Update March 11: As the BDA members meet in Tokyo this week and have discussed this topic, the BDA has this week issued some certifications to several manufacturers, including Samsung. The same company spokesperson then sent this statement to 3DHollywood.net on March 11: “Samsung is fully committed to upholding all technology standards issued by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA). The Samsung Blu-ray player (BD-C6900) has passed all tests based on Blu-ray 3D test specification of BDA issued to date, and has officially obtained Blu-ray 3D certification at the authorized Testing Center. Samsung products that were shipped to the US prior to receiving final certification are 100% certified and do not require any modifications to play Blu-ray 3D discs.”

Samsung has already said it will bundle the first home 3D versions of DreamWorks’ “Monsters vs. Aliens” with its 3D players starting March 21. Paramount distributes DreamWorks animation titles.

The company also promoted its 3D TVs a lot during Sunday’s Academy Awards program and during the run-up to the Oscars heavily promoted a special “3D Hollywood” contest (no connection to this site) for viewing KABC’-TV’s “One the Red Carpet” arrivals live program in 3D on Samsung’s LED TVs via closed circuit feed at an invitation-only event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills to which the media was not allowed.

Blu-ray Disc Association officials and several execs at other studios said they were not at liberty to comment about the status of the certification process or Samsung’s 3D Blu-ray players.

In addition to the products already in stores, Samsung is expected to officially introduce a new 3D Blu-ray player and a 46-inch LED-LCD HDTV that joins Samsung’s already-available 55-inch 3D TV, all of which feature active shutter glasses.

As there is presently no 3D product available on Blu-ray and no 3D programming on TV, Samsung says much of your existing 2D content can be converted into 3D.

The company has said that starting March 21, Samsung will include a starter kit (a 3D Blu-ray Disc version of “Monsters vs. Aliens” and two pairs of Samsung 3D active glasses) with the purchase of a Samsung 3D-ready HDTV and Blu-ray player.

More than 900 Best Buy stores will have Samsung 3D experiences beginning March 21.

Panasonic is expected to announce Wednesday that iis introducing 50-inch Viera 3D TVs for $2,500 this week and is setting up special branded demo sections at Best Buy stores.

Sony is announcing it will wait until June 10 to introduce its first 3D TVs just in time for World Cup Soccer, which Sony is sponsoring on ESPN. The 46-inch Sony will sell for about $3,800 and come with two pairs of active shutter glasses. A 40-inch model will also be available. Sony’s battery-operated active shutter glasses will be priced at about a whopping $133 separately, and may not be compatible with other manufacturer’s 3D TVs.

Meanwhile, in related news, four entertainment company giants — Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Thomson Licensing, Toshiba Corporation and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment — formed a worldwide joint licensing program for Blu-ray patents that was announced Monday (March to be called the BD4C Licensing Group.

– By Scott Hettrick

Scott Hettrick

Showcasing once again the cavernous gulf between Hollywood art and commerce, “Avatar,” the biggest moneymaker of all-time, was shut out of the top Academy Awards categories Sunday, March 7, in favor of the least financially successful movie to ever take home the top honor, “The Hurt Locker.” Meanwhile, on the very same weekend, the newest 3D blockbuster, Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland,” was setting even bigger 3D and IMAX opening weekend box-office records than “Avatar.”

IMAX, which had been put in the difficult position of having to push “Avatar” out of its theaters while it was still doing near sell-out business in some venues (in its 12th week of release “Avatar” generated another $7.7 mil. overall March 5-7 to climb to $720 mil.), enjoyed new record business of its own.

IMAX announced today, March 8, that “Alice” grossed $12.1 mil. at its 188 domestic theaters, a 27% improvement on previous record-holder “Avatar,” and represents 10.5% of the overall box-office despite IMAX representing only 2.5% of total screens on which the film was playing.

IMAX theaters accounted for another $3.1 million from 53 international venues and will open in 29 additional IMAX theatres overseas in the weeks ahead. Globally, “Alice” took in $210.3 mil., and IMAX’s Friday haul of $4.3 million (incl. midnights) for “Alice” is also the biggest in IMAX history, according to Paul Dergarabedian’s Box Office at Hollywood.com.

(IMAX will face another tough situation in three weeks when it is contractually obligated to replace “Alice” with DreamWorks’ “How to Train Your Dragon.”)

The IMAX figures came as “Alice” also set a new all-time high for a March debut in all theaters with $116.3 mil (sixth biggest opening weekend of all-time), rughly 70% of that estimated to come from 3D screens. It’s the first movie to ever open with more than $100 mil. outside if the months of May, June, July or November, and the biggest non-sequel opening of all-time.

Hey, I wasn’t a big fan of “Alice” myself (although the 2D conversion was pretty impressive and 3D always looks best on true giant IMAX screens, my favorite part was the 3D trailers for “Toy Story 3D” and especially “Tron Legacy”), and I didn’t like “Avatar” as much as many others obviously did, but the industry’s biggest awards organization must find a way to honor the movies that clearly resonate with the largest block of their customers and generate the most cash, therefore providing funding for the most industry jobs.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Oscars telecast had its best rating in five years for a show that at least included a nomination for “Avatar,” which clearly drew many hopeful fans. The all-time biggest Oscar audience remains the one for “Titanic,” the previous biggest movie ever. But that was in an Academy voter-friendly genre: drama.

So don’t count on the fantastical “Alice” to score any Oscars next year. After all, the only thing “Alice” and “Avatar” are doing is keeping the movie industry alive and creating new 3D markets by raking in tons of cash that pay for little movies like “The Hurt Locker” to earn all the accolades.

– By Scott Hettrick

Observers and crew in Vince Pace's production truck all don 3D glasses during the live-to-tape production of Harlem Globetrotters game at new ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.

Vince was experimenting with three handheld 3D cameras as well as 3D cameras mounted on the top of the scoreboard and a skycam, all of which worked successfully for the most part. The images were not only being watched by a crowd of people wearing glasses in the two production trucks, but also by executives and media in a special room inside the Milk House arena, comparing Sony TVs displaying the active shutter glasses system and the more common polarized glasses system.

Immediately after the taping, Pace talked with 3DHollywood (2 1/2-minute video below) about the strategies, challenges, and successes of the event and offered his views on how far to push the 3D effect in various mediums.

– By Scott Hettrick