Avatar 3D Blu-ray to be Panasonic Exclusive? Delays 3D Adoption Even More

What a lot of Avatar whisperings there have been over the last week, from details on the extended version to some leaked cover art for the Collector's Edition due in November.  The latest however, isn't good news for anyone.  It starts off well by saying the 3D Blu-ray of Avatar will be out on the 1st December, but then goes on to say that it will be an exclusive for purchasers of a Panasonic 3D TV and Blu-ray player.

So, the film which has beaten all box-office records, sold a giant amount of Blu-rays on its first bare-bones release and is the poster-child for 3D will not be available seperately instores until Panasonic's exclusivity period ends, which according to HollywoodinHighDef is 'unusually long'.  Given that Monsters vs. Aliens exclusivity is a year, does that mean Avatar's is even longer?

Is Avatar in 3D at home worth $2000-$3000?  No, the film - as a film and not a technical demonstration - works better in 2D, but this isn't about Avatar, it's about the continued enforced belief that 3D is the future.  How can this possibly be if by 2011, only three titles will be available on sell-through - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Monster House and A Christmas Carol - with the rest, all two or three, as exclusives?  Where is the incentive? 

Perhaps even worse, everyone who has already purchased a 3D setup will not be able to buy Avatar, the film that probably inspired them to buy the set and player in the first place!  What a great way to alienate 3D early adopters.  Still, we're sure their kids are happy to watch Monsters vs. Aliens again. 

If the studios all want exclusive deals like this, that's fine, we don't have to buy them, but what has to stop is the bleating about 'waiting for 3D adoption to grow', as they are the very ones who are halting it!  Despite the studios failure to admit 3D is a niche fad, they're actually making it one by treating the new technology this way. 

 

Comments

[YourArticleSucks]

You're a fucking retard. I agree that these companies aren't doing themselves any favors with these exclusivity deals but this article is full of bias that demonstrates that you see 3D as a gimmick and fad that's sure to die soon enough. There are more than 3 available 3D blu-rays out now and more due out before 2011. Yes, Avatar was the deciding factor for many people to purchase 3D TVs I'm sure and this exclusivity is doing more harm than good to the 3D market but your comments regarding 3D in general are out of line. 3D will continue to grow and eventually movies will be out without exclusivity. Unfortunately these companies are trying to force people to buy their TVs in order to expand the market but eventually there will be enough of one that this won't be necessary in their minds. They've invested too much in 3D to let it die off and they won't give in before their competition. I think by around the middle of 2011 there will be a few 3D TV channels and 3D adoption will have grown enough that exclusives like these will be fewer and farther between.

[Andy Boxall]

Aside from your unnecessary insult at the start, don't you just go on to agree with what I'm saying? For example, you agree that exclusivity deals are harming the 3D market and that many probably purchased their 3D TV because of Avatar - a film they now can't buy.

That manufacturers are 'forcing' customers to buy their product with exclusives, has nothing to with pushing adoption and everything to do with differentiating their TV from another. It's a selfish act performed when the 3D home industry needs as much software on the shelves as possible.

At the time of writing - three months ago - there were three sell-through Blu-ray titles available. Since then, a handful more have been announced.

Oh, and history has proven 3D to be a gimmick. Whether it's a successful gimmick or not is down to its treatment by manufacturers and studios, and they're not off to a good start. It's a shame, as the 3D TVs I've seen look good, but there's just no reason to buy one yet.