Panasonic marketing executives have proudly proclaimed that the company has worked with 20th Century Fox and will bring a version of Avatar 3D Blu-ray to consumers this December.
The company's Viera plasma 3DTV will be the focus of the winter marketing campaign in 2010 while companies announce and launch new 3D products. Current Panasonic 3DTV owners will be eligible for the promotion as well, but exact details into the promotion are still unknown. The TC-PVT20/25 series will support 3D Avatar, along with the company’s TC-PGT25 line.
This will mark the third time Panasonic and Fox have worked together to help promote Blu-ray or 3D. The two companies previously offered Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs on 3D Blu-ray when bundled with the Panasonic 3D plasma home theater purchase at Best Buy. Also, the two companies offered a $25 rebate for Avatar when a Panasonic Blu-ray player or HDTV system was purchased.
"For the consumer, there is really no better way to experience 3D in the home than with this particular disc," said Victor Carlson, Panasonic consumer marketing VP, in an interview with TWICE. "This is the perfect marriage between this blockbuster made for 3D and what we think is the ultimate home entertainment system for enjoying 3D using our TV sets."
There should be a large marketing push among major manufacturers to promote 3D Blu-ray over the next eight quarters. Panasonic has 3DTV demos at Best Buy locations in the U.S., and Panasonic joins Sony and a few others looking to lead the early 3D industry.
However, there is a concern that 3D Blu-ray movies and content will remain locked away in exclusive bundles that will only help keep the 3D Blu-ray market fractured and cause issues for consumers looking to acquire 3D content. Even so, it could still be a boost for the emerging market -- Blu-ray saw an increase in interest (which leveled off) after Avatar's release, with Avatar Blu-ray piracy records shattering previous marks.
An extended edition Avatar 3D is now being shown in select movie theaters for a short time, as Fox looks for as many ways as possible to create more revenue.
