What is the future of digital TV – HD or 3D?
HD isn't the future, HD is the present. Almost every single network is available in HD that matters, and there are more coming online all the time.
3D is going to be a part of the HD future for DTV, but in a limited fashion. Most television isn't worth watching in 3D, and most viewers don't want to wear glasses to watch television normally. Often they multi-task with other work or PC stuff while the TV is on, and so wearing 3D glasses isn't realistic.
There are some that just hate the glasses altogether and demand glasses free 3D (even though it won't exist in the next decade or longer).
So, 3D will be limited as a niche product. This doesn't change that it will be standard on all the best displays on the market, and that there will be sales generated around 3D. That is, sports, video games, and movies are going to be a big draw for people who enjoy 3D. There will be family movie nights with 3D, and there will be front projection setups with 3D.
I would say about half the people weighing in on 3D do NOT like it though, so as long as that's the case, there is no chance for 3D to truly be the main focus of DTV. It will continue to be the image quality of HD which is going to be the standard for years to come.
ON THE OTHER HAND: If 3D specifications allow for transmission of 2D HD material, with 3D offset as a variable to the true HD broadcast, we may see ALL broadcasts start to shift to '3D capable' broadcasts which will allow people to choose whether they want to view in 2D or 3D. That would be nice for consumers to have that choice.
