The BBC have announced they are going to “suspend 3D programming for an indefinite period due to a lack of public appetite for the technology”
I was slightly surprised recently to discover that the BBC were going to produce a special Dr Who anniversary edition in 3D (to be broadcast in November) but it turns out that the BBC had allocated a 2 year period for their 3D project and the Dr Who anniversary project ties in with the end of that period.
Kim Shillinglaw, the head of 3D at the BBC, suggested that people found 3D to be “quite hastley” in the context of TV. She suggested that people tend to multitask while watching TV, as opposed to cinema where people are entirely focused on the movie and not trying to do anything else at the same time.
Thankfully Kim’s main job is Head of Science and Natural history, so she still has that job to do still once the 3D trial is over.
Clearly the BBC are trying to play down the effect that their withdrawl from 3D might bring.
"I am not sure our job is to call the whole 3D race," she said.
However it is likely that other broadcasters will take note.
More from the BBC here