3D TV

This is the television set that I watch: it is a 19 inch Samsung. There is no HD and definitely

no 3D. Suppliers are now trying to ship 3D televisions, in time for the world cup, for more than £1,800. I was scanning the numerous channels on Freeview the other night and could only find one channel that I wanted to watch. The rest of the channels were either showing rubbish or looping through 24 hour news. Most of the content was not being broadcast in either HD or 3D, so why should I bother to spend £1,800.

I do not go to football matches very often, and the last time I went I saw West Ham United play Manchester United. It was live and very much in three dimensions. The one thing that I noticed, from a perception point of view, was that the footballers were running very much slower live than they appear to be on TV. The twinkled toed star of MU did not look so impressive. The West Ham team quickly neutralised the highly paid "dribbler" and went on to win the match 2-1. Somehow the football did not look so special . Now, with Rugby Football, it is a different story but maybe I am prejudiced.

Have I become so used to seeing sport on television that I am disappointed when I see the real thing? Has anyone else noticed the difference? Is it the electronic medium providing the entertainment rather than the content that is broadcast. Will the 3D television world be equally disappointing?

Eventually, 3D television sets will become so cheap that everyone will be watching them, including me. Coronation street will still be rubbish, however, and the endless repeats of Dallas will still retain their faded quality. We will still be paying for style over substance when it comes to programme content.

As for the football, we will soon be treated to players diving and shirt pulling in full HD and 3D. The histrionics and false displays of pain will become more exaggerated. The endless discussions about whether a player was off-side or the ball over the goal line will still continue in the studio: 3D television might result in them going on forever. Now, with Rugby Football this will not happen but maybe I am prejudiced.