BBC Shelves Its 3-D TV Programming Plans

The BBC has become the latest broadcaster to put down its 3-D glasses.

The British public broadcaster confirmed on Friday that it had suspended its 3-D programming plans, citing a lack of viewer interest in the technology that brings three-dimensional images to TV.

The move came about a month after ESPN, the best-known provider of 3-D programming in the United States, announced that it was going to shut down its 3-D cable channel. It, too, cited “limited consumer adoption” of the technology. While many households own 3-D TV sets, few ever use them â€" along with the special glasses â€" to watch eye-popping shows.

Kim Shillinglaw, the head of the BBC’s 3-D efforts, characterized the broadcaster’s use of the technology as a “limited trial” and an experiment. While the programming will go on hiatus, “the BBC will take many of the skills developed as part of the trial forward and continue to monitor 3-D developments, including glasses-free 3-D, as well as other technological advances in all areas of media,” she said in a statement.