The 50th anniversary Doctor Who episode (airs November 2013) brings an end to the BBC's 2-year 3DTV programming experiment-- following that, the Corporation takes a 3-year break from the format.
“I have never seen a very big appetite for 3D television in the UK," BBC head of 3D Kim Shillinglaw tells Radio Times. “Watching 3D is quite a hassly experience in the home.... I think when people watch TV they concentrate in a different way."
Shillinglaw suggests 3D in the home is a different beast from cinemas, where audiences tend to just do one thing (namely stare at the screen) as opposed to easily distracted home audiences.
The BBC believes UK 3D-enabled households total around 1.5 million, but only 50% of 3DTV owners watched the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony in 3D. Even worse are the figures for the Christmas broadcasts of children's drama Mr. Stink and the Queen's Speech-- "less than 5% of potential viewers" bothered to tune in.
Other BBC broadcasts in the format include Strictly Come Dancing and natural history documentary Walking with Dinosaurs.
“After [the hiatus] we will see what happens when the recession ends and there may be more take up of sets but I think the BBC will be having a wait and see. It’s the right time for a good old pause," Shillinglaw continues.
The announcement follows the end of 3DTV programming on US network ESPN, and rumbles from FIFA on "scrapping" the format in favour of 2014 World Cup broadcasts in regular glasses-free HD.
