Just under a month since it announced the formation of its production arm, 3net,the joint venture of Discovery, Sony and IMAX, revealed its initial slate of original 3D and 4K TV fare, highlighted by its first native 4K series.
The series, Space, will be produced in what 3net Studios is billing “TotalD,” which means it will be show in native 3D 4K, 2D 4K, 3D 2K and both 3D/2D HD formats.
The diverse lineup from 3net Studios also includes Marksmen, the world’s first 3D motion comic series for television; documentary series Frozen In Time: Our History In 3D; the live-action special Wingsuit Warrior: Jeb Corliss vs. The World; and travelogue skein Daydream.
“Today’s announcement marks an important first step in our ongoing mission to meet the increasing global demand for high-quality, original 3D and 4K television content head on,” said 3net president and CEO Tom Cosgrove in a statement. “We’re proud of the diverse initial slate of live-action and animated series we have created and look forward to expanding it as 3net Studios finalizes its full 2013 development schedule.”
Space, a3net Studios original production in association with Percolate Digital, will provide viewers with a vision of the birth, evolution and end of the phenomena that make up the universe. Billed as the world’s first native 4K project for television, the series, encompassing a trio of one-hour installments, employs lyrical and deeply stereoscopic 3D and Ultra HD shots to immerse the viewer within space itself as concepts are presented with relatable visual storytelling.
What’s the view like from inside a nebula, or a comet’s tail? What does traveling at the speed of light really look like, and just how hot is the planet Mercury? Those and other questions will be explored on the series.
4K or Ultra HD is the next evolution in high-definition viewing on television,according to 3net officials. 4K UHDTV sets display at 3840 x 2160, allowing for a new level of depth and detail. Major consumer electronics companies, including Sony, LG and Toshiba, are already introducing consumer-grade UHD TV's, with more sizes and price points expected early next year. In addition to displaying native 4K content, these televisions are also efficient at up-converting HD content to full display resolution, according to 3net.
