3-D coverage should help the Masters

 

Golf needs all the help it can get to be exciting on television, so televising this year’s Masters tournament in 3-D is a welcome addition. Augusta National will have numerous 3-D cameras placed strategically throughout the course, primarily on the back nine. Sony Electronics and Comcast are  combining in the production effort.

However, the first national sporting event ever broadcast in 3-D will have a miniscule audience because only a few viewers have sets with 3-D capability.

For those who do, Cox will be the exclusive provider of the 3-D telecasts in Oklahoma. Beginning Wednesday, two hours a day of Masters’ 3-D programming will be available at no additional cost to Cox Advanced TV customers with an HD or HD/DVR receiver on channel 710. Customers also can access Masters content via the On Demand library on Channel 1.

For those who don’t have 3-D sets, Cox also will have demonstrations at its Edmond store, 3313 S Broadway, and Norman store, 1278 N Interstate Drive.

On Tuesday, I got a chance to preview the 3-D technology at the Cox store in Edmond. I was amazed at the effect, especially items that appeared to float in front of my face. Because the demonstration consisted of musical acts, I’m not sure how it will work with golf. I would expect the Augusta National terrain changes, especially the sloping greens, would be magnified and a bunker shot would be amazing.

As with any new technology, it will be a pricy endeavor at first. The required “active shutter” glasses alone cost $140 and the TV sets are $400 to $500 more than a regular HD set.

At least, if you’re like me looking to purchase an HD set, you might consider purchasing one that has 3-D capability. In the future, more and more sporting events will be getting in on the new technology.

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