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Report: 3DTV sales to more than double in 2011

Over 4 million 3DTVs will be sold worldwide by the end of 2010, and about 5 million such sets will be purchased in the U.S. alone next year, according to Futuresource Consulting.

Don Reisinger
CNET contributor Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
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Don Reisinger
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You'll be seeing more of these in homes next year.
You'll be seeing more of these in homes next year. CNET

The adoption of 3DTVs is expected to spike next year.

Futuresource Consulting predicts that 4 million 3DTVs will be sold worldwide by the end of this year. The figure could at least double next year to 5 million 3DTVs in the U.S. and 3 million in Western Europe, the market researcher said today. Futuresource added that so far, "year-one adoption of 3DTV is running at a far quicker rate in most territories than it did for high-definition."

According to Futuresource, vendors are seeing value in delivering 3D in their sets and "manufacturers are now able to embed 3D chipsets at a relatively low cost, allowing them to increase their margins while still keeping 3D affordable."

Futuresource noted that Toshiba's recent announcement of glasses-free 3DTVs could be "discouraging some consumers from investing in the current generation of 3DTV." However, the research firm said it believes that the technology is "at least four years away" from being made available in large sets for the home and up to seven years away from reaching "mass-market pricing."

Futuresource's findings may show that 3D adoption is on the rise, but it doesn't mean that the vast majority of consumers believe they are ready to adopt the technology.

Back in September, Deloitte released a study that found 83 percent of consumers do not believe 3D technology is enough to make them want to buy a new television. Even worse for vendors, 60 percent of those surveyed said they wouldn't pay extra for 3D capabilities in their televisions. Moreover, Deloitte found that 31 percent of respondents believe 3D fails to "enhance the entertainment experience."

Regardless, 3D is coming to the market from all sides. Major TV makers, like Samsung, Panasonic, Vizio, and others are adding 3D technology to some of their sets. Sony, which also offers 3DTVs, is doubling-down on the technology with the ability for developers to create 3D video games for the PlayStation 3. The console also supports 3D Blu-ray playback.

Simply put, 3D is coming to the TV market whether you like it or not.