Media: Do not adjust your sets for 3D rugby

Richie McCaw coming at viewers in 3D is a possibility for international coverage of the Rugby World Cup. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The International Rugby Board has asked Sky Television to picture Richie McCaw "comin' at ya" with 3D coverage of the 2011 World Cup.

The IRB is looking at extending Sky's host broadcaster contract so it can offer 3D rugby to international broadcasters.

The investigation would not affect the coverage available in New Zealand. Local broadcasters lack the money or inclination to buy rights while there are so few TV sets capable of showing a 3D picture.

There are big questions about whether there is consumer demand for 3D or whether this is just another attempt by technology firms to create the next consumer must-have.

And would 3D coverage be simply a case of me too-ism - trying to match global sport channel ESPN's soccer World Cup coverage serving 6.2 million 3D sets around the world?

Rugby does not have the global appeal to attract broadcasters to buy 3D rights.

Sky Television chief executive John Fellet said there were questions about the economics of 3D for the Rugby World Cup.

There were no plans for 3D broadcasts in Australia or New Zealand and too little interest in rugby in the United States or Europe. If it were just Britain interested, the cost for BSky B or the BBC would be extraordinarily high, he said.

Beyond the possible extension to 3D, Sky has played down the potential returns of the host broadcaster contract, which Fellet insists will not be a big earner.

He said Sky was aiming for a profit but had bid for the host broadcaster contract because no other local party was capable of providing the role.

"It had to happen and we were the only ones to do it."

FAST FORWARD

As host broadcaster, Sky is responsible for sending high-definition pictures of all 48 games around the world.

Sky is also servicing international broadcasters providing their own commentaries and broadcast material at an international broadcast centre at its Auckland studios.

Sky TV head of sport Kevin Cameron said the 3D issue was live. The Rugby World Cup had been rated as the third-largest sporting event in the world.

But 3D coverage would mean additional cameras and staff and the IRB would have to assess how it would pay for it.

Holders of Rugby World Cup television rights from around the world meet at Eden Park in September.

There have been indications that global technology giant Sony has been prepared to offer free 3D cameras - to help provide more content to hasten the uptake of 3D TV sets.

But TV producers around the world are wary about the hype for the new technology. Having recently upgraded to provide high-definition pictures, they do not want to quickly pay more for 3D gear to serve a tiny niche.

South Pacific Pictures managing director John Barnett has warned that New Zealand TV is unlikely to be in the vanguard for 3D.

HIGH PRINCIPLES

Radio New Zealand news bosses had raised issues with Sean Plunket recently over interrupting Morning Report interviewees, a Radio New Zealand source says.

But it's well known Plunket has clashed in the past with an organisation he has described as a bureaucracy with radio stations attached.

A clash with chief executive Peter Cavanagh is not just over his writing a column for Metro - it has occurred amid Government moves to shake up RNZ.

Regular listeners to Morning Report will not be surprised to hear that Plunket fights for his corner.

After 14 years in the daily grind, alongside Geoff Robinson and the bloody bird songs, he says he needs a change.

But Cavanagh's approach in banning the Metro column has parallels with the handling of the Government funding freeze. In both cases the chief executive - backed by RNZ chairwoman Christine Grice - has taken a lofty stand on principle and resisted change. That coincides with slow and relentless cuts to a radio service that has survived largely due to the self-sacrifice of staff.

There will be some who applaud his approach banning the Metro column.

But wouldn't a private sector chief executive have found a compromise rather than go into battle with its star?

In the same way, would you expect the chief executive - astonishingly reappointed by the outgoing Labour chairman Brian Corban just before the last election - to resist calls for change in the way RNZ is run?

There may well be valid concerns that National plans to meddle with RNZ but Cavanagh has shown few signs of engaging with the new world.

* Radio New Zealand has taken issue with an item about Plunket this week which referred to its launching a costly legal challenge to his writing a column for Metro.

RNZ was responding to Plunket's application to the Employment Relations authority and was using its normal legal advisers, said spokesman John Barr.

HAIL MARY?

Plunket was sometimes pilloried by the left, who saw him as too hard on Labour.

There were rumours he had applied for a job with the new National Government. But there have been no signs that he was giving the Nats an easy run.

So who could replace him?

The natural inclination may be to go with Checkpoint host Mary Wilson. She has an eye for uncovering facts.

Her major fault is that everything is an interrogation, and she lacks Plunket's ability to project different moods - light and shade.

Wilson at seven in the morning - jeez, I'd rather switch over to Coast.

The left have called in with their wishlist, which includes Finlay McDonald, but he is more into thoughtful discourse and lingering irony than news. John Campbell's first love has always been TV.

Elsewhere, Kathryn Ryan might have a chance - but Ryan and Geoff Robinson? Enough said.

Also at RNZ, Lynn Freeman is accomplished, bright and pleasant but maybe a little soft.

Mike Hosking says he would not darken RNZ's door.

And Paul Holmes? Would he want to go back to 4am starts?

RNZ insists it has no succession plan. Which is surprising since Plunket has been on the verge of leaving for two years.

LAWS OF GRAVITY

Plunket is one of our best broadcasters, but like the best talent he needs to be managed.

RadioLive programming boss Mitch Harris says he is looking for a role for Plunket, raising the prospect that RadioLive's owners, MediaWorks, are finally taking on Newstalk and National Radio.

RadioLive breakfast host Marcus Lush only has niche appeal but he is well liked by the top management at MediaWorks and it would be surprising if he were thrown to the wolves.

Chats with Plunket coincide with news that the grieving parents of a boy killed in a trailbike accident will receive $35,000 in costs and damages for comments radio host Michael Laws made on air.

An apology is also expected to be made to Heather and Stuart Fowlie on RadioLive on Sunday. RadioLive trades on Laws' bizarre proclamations - some that are valid but politically incorrect and some that are just plain nasty.

I understand that RadioLive is not impressed by this latest event. So maybe Harris' interest in Plunket is sending a message to the incumbent.

But Laws - who has said he is not standing again for the Wanganui mayoralty - is understood to have two years to run on a five-year contract.

FIFA HO HUM

Television New Zealand has been getting some good reports on Martin Devlin's role fronting TV One coverage of the soccer World Cup with some noting that he has been a "breath of fresh air", says spokesman Peter Parussini.

To his credit, Devlin knows and loves his soccer - and he was an antidote to the Fifa-supplied coverage of the All Whites v Slovakia game.

Parussini defended the decision to have no local commentary of the actual game on One. Sky TV had commentators here for its coverage of the game.

He said that the Fifa commentary was informed. I'd beg to differ.

The commentary was a shocker. It sounded a bit like a satirical piece on One's comedy show Harry and Paul.