To better serve the growing global theatrical, television, video game, and mobile 3D marketplace and professional community, the International 3D Society and the 3D@Home Consortium announced plans to merge operations and activities. With members in 20 countries and chapters in China, Japan, Korea, Europe, the UK and North America, the new organisation will be known as the International 3D Society & 3D@Home.

"This newly formed organization will serve to spearhead the growth and expansion of the 3D entertainment industry across the entire ecosystem - from content conception and development, to consumer education and adoption," said Tom Cosgrove, Co-Chair of I3DS & 3D@Home and President and CEO of 3net. "Across all platforms where 3D is expanding, everywhere consumers are consuming 3D content, and in any way the 3D format is being utilized, our organization is there to support our members and advance the growth of this prolific medium."

"From supporting content creators to educating consumers, our two groups have distinguished themselves in providing neutral, non-branded information to important communities," said Jim Mainard, Past-Chair of I3DS and Head of Digital Strategy at Dreamworks Animation. "Their combined power and scope will maximize our ability to steadily grow 3D across countless media platforms in education, industrial applications, home photography, as well as the entertainment industry."

The combined organization staff will be led by I3DS President, Jim Chabin. "This new group connects professionals and markets from Hollywood to Silicon Valley, to Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, London, Brussels, and 20 other countries," he said. "This is 3D?s leadership and voice coming together to fuel the growing 3D revolution."

The new organization will include a group of members with more than 60 companies and 500 professionals. Companies include: The Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Pixar, ESPN, BSkyB, Panasonic, XpanD 3D, Dolby Laboratories, 3ality Technica, Masterimage 3D, RealD, IMAX, StereoD, National Geographic Cinema Ventures, CCTV China, Korea Telecomm, Intel, THX, Microsoft, Technicolor, Samsung, Sony Electronics, MobiTV, BluFocus, Walt Disney Studios, Eutelsat, Turner Broadcasting, Vizio and others.

Story filed 18.08.12