Cable Assessing Standards for 3D

TV TECHNOLOGY

Cable Assessing Standards for 3D

02.20.2009

The cable industry's engineering association is taking its first steps towards developing a standard for viewing 3D TV over cable networks. 

The engineering committee for the Society of Cable Telecommunications and Engineers (SCTE), which oversees the society's development of technical standards for cable networks, has approved "3D over Cable," a project that will focus on identifying necessary or desirable changes to existing SCTE standard, including transport protocols, for carrying 3D content over cable networks. 

"Although 3D content is available today over cable, the long-term delivery of next generation 3D content will be strengthened by the adoption of uniform engineering and technical criteria," said SCTE Engineering Committee Chair Charlie Kennamer.  To that end, SCTE intends to 

examine new 3D television technology to develop standards that can be used by the cable industry to deliver a more immersive television experience." 

The 3D project will be handled by SCTE's Digital Video Committee (DVS), which will make recommendations on standards and protocol based on the industry's needs. DVS will consider not only cable industry activities, but other industry initiatives, including current work being done by the Society of Television and Motion Picture Engineers, which announced its own 3D standards efforts last summer. 

Approximately 160 cable operators, vendors and allied organizations are SCTE Standards Program members.