Secaucus, NJ—The USTA announced that Panasonic will work with CBS Sports and the USTA to broadcast the US Open Tennis Championships in 3D for a second year. This year’s 3D broadcasts also will extend coverage of CBS Sports’ matches from Louis Armstrong Stadium.
CBS Sports will serve as the host broadcaster producing the 3D coverage for the USTA and Panasonic. It will produce 3D versions of all Arthur Ashe Stadium matches that it broadcasts in HD both on Labor Day weekend and on finals weekend, September 9-11.
Last year’s 3D production of the 2010 US Open—the first worldwide 3D broadcast of a tennis major—was honored with a 2010 Emmy Award for technical achievement (George Wensel).
This year’s 3D broadcast coverage will include new 3D-specific positions designed by the telecast partners to provide the best perspectives. Ten 3D broadcast cameras and a high-speed 3D replay system will cover the action. A preproduction model of Panasonic’s new 3DP1 handheld Full HD 3D professional camcorder (available later this fall) will be used to provide match and grounds coverage for the telecast.
“Panasonic is delighted to again be sponsoring the US Open Championships and bringing the passion and power of this premier tennis event in stunning 3D to TV screens across the country,” said Joseph M. Taylor, chairman and CEO of Panasonic Corporation of North America. “The tennis pros on the courts will be broadcast in 3D by sports production pros at our partner CBS, and with the USTA itself, we are thrilled to be back at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for this top event.”
Panasonic, the official 3D electronics sponsor and the official television of the US Open Championships as well as sponsor of CBS Sports’ 2D and 3D US Open telecasts, will enable fans at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to experience the immersive world of 3D via public viewing galleries featuring its latest large-screen Viera Full HD 3D TVs. These on-site exhibits will demonstrate a range of 3D programming, including movies and live TV events. They will also showcase Panasonic’s Viera Connect technology in web-connected TVs and Blu-ray players, which feature Skype video calling, Facebook and Twitter. The Panasonic Experience Amazing 3D exhibits can be found on the ground level of Louis Armstrong Stadium, at the Panasonic 3D Gaming Center within the SmashZone, and at the Panasonic Viera Connect booth in the South Plaza in front of court 10.
Panasonic will also engage fans on-site with promotions that include a FourSquare program where fans can check into the Panasonic exhibits via FourSquare to receive special offers, as well as the Experience Amazing Scavenger Hunt in which QR codes will be located in select locations throughout the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Fans that scan all of the codes receive a special premium and will be eligible to win prizes such as a Panasonic Full HD 3D Home Entertainment system. panasonic.com
