LAS VEGAS – Sony waved its Sony United flag high Wednesday with a
synergized press conference showcasing the numerous 3D and Internet TV
contributions of its various divisions to the “3D value chain.”
Sony chairman Howard Stringer kicked off the event by rolling
onto the stage in front of a massive 3D LED billboard display in a tricked-out
car from the upcoming movie “The Green Hornet” along with the film’s stars Seth
Rogen and Jay Chou.
In addition to hyping the upcoming box office release, and full
slate of 3D box office releases planned for 2001, Stringer pitched his
company’s diverse activities in helping to lead the 3D revolution, including the
launch of an extensive second-generation Bravia 3D LCD TV line.
In 2010, “we established ourselves as the industry leader because
we span the ecosystem,” Stringer said, referring to the company producing
everything from 3D movies to 3D TVs in the home. “In 2011, 3D becomes
personal.”
In all, the 2011 TV assortment will include 27 Bravia models, 16
of which will be 3D Full HD LED LCD models and 22 Internet-connected sets.
Also on display as possible technologies of the future were several
glasses-free displays including a 56-inch 4K pixel LCD monitor, a 46-inch 2K
pixel LCD and a 24.5-inch 2K pixel OLED display.
The company also has worked up prototypes of a head-mounted 3D
display and a portable 3D DVD player that requires no glasses.
Sony is offering 3D capability in other CE categories, including
a 3D Handycam camcorder, billed as the world’s first 3D camcorder to record in
“double full HD,” an array of digital 3D cameras and a 3D-compatible Vaio PC.
The company also underscored its leadership position in the connected
television category through various offerings ranging from the Bravia Internet
Video Link platform to its Internet TVs powered by Google TV, introduced late
last year.
Sony is to produce an ad campaign this year with the tagline
“Television Redefined: Sony Internet TV.”
Content partners for Sony’s Bravia Internet Video Link sets
include previous partners: YouTube, Netflix, HuluPlus, and Amazon on Demand, but
now add Sony’s Qriocity VOD service and Music Unlimited, which is a
multiplatform music service that will launch in the U.S. this year with 6
million songs from all major labels.
Meanwhile, Sony elicited a few gasps from the audience by
revealing that Time Warner Cable will deliver its entire video programming
lineup to customers with Sony’s Internet-connected Bravia HDTVs this year.
Though detail were sketchy, the potential paradigm changer for
pay TV service delivery, will bring access to programming delivered over
Internet protocol, without the need for a set-top box, said Phil Molyneux, new Sony
Electronics USA president.
“Delivering cable content over IP, will allow consumers new found
flexibility to view their favorite TV programs on Sony products around their
home,” Molyneux said.
Sony also revealed the name of the new 3D cable network it is
producing in conjunction with partners Discovery Communications and IMAX, will
be “3net.”
