Italians Get 3DTV Through Terrestrial Network—If They Don't Mind Waiting All Day

Italian terrestrial network Mediaset has launched what it claims is the world's first 3DTV terrestrial broadcast system, but there's a pretty big catch—the system "trickles" data to a set-top-box hard drive throughout the day, to avoid data bottlenecks.

The company's 3VOD delivery system uses spare bandwidth within the broadcast multiplex, transmitting the enormous amounts of data required for 3DTV files while someone in your household is watching grainy cartoons that leave plenty of room in the airwaves. It's then stored and will pop-up on the EPG when ready to be watched, glitch and lag free, from the hard drive.

Mediaset claims to have "around 50" (which is pretty much "all") 3D films ready for watching. As long as you're not in a hurry. [WSJ via Engadget]