The entry of 3D into the home "isn't the second coming of HD, and if you say it will have the speed of adoption that HD had, I'm not buying that."
So said News Corp. deputy chairman, president and COO Chase Carey, conducting a one-on-one interview with Broadcasting & Cable editor-in-chief Ben Grossman at a Hollywood Radio Television Society luncheon Tuesday.
Speaking in general terms on a wide range of topics primarily focused on adaptation to new technologies, Carey predicted that 3D-TV will grow to occupy only a niche role in the future home-entertainment landscape, confined to viewing of primarily sports and movies.
"I don't think you'll pop home and watch 8 o'clock TV with 3D glasses on," he said. "The (adoption) will be somewhat different than HD. That was a situation where, if you had two other networks doing it, you didn't want to be left out."
In terms of emerging digital technologies, Carey was more bullish on Apple's iPad, calling it the first mobile device to effectively channel traditional media. "It makes a book feel like a book, and a TV show feel like a TV show," Carey said. "It can even make the ads as interesting as the content."
While trumpeting the iPad as one of the first devices to actually translate a truly convergent media experience, he also expressed hope "that we're not all captive to Apple." He also expressed desire that "vibrant competition" would soon emerge in the digital reader-tablet market.
Meanwhile, Carey — who returned to News Corp. last year after a stint as the top executive at satellite service provider DirecTV — expressed desire to bump subscription fees for News Corp. cable assets, specifically FX, which pulls in significantly less subscription revenue than rivals TNT and USA Network.
Carey also repeatedly brought up the issue of broadcast retransmission fees, noting that it was the only way for broadcast networks like News Corp's Fox to move forward.
"It's unrealistic to expect broadcast to compete with cable without dual revenue streams," he said. "A network like Fox is just a channel to the consumer. And like a cable channel, we need to fight to get the revenue that reflects that value the network provides. Broadcast networks still have audience shares that dwarf anyone else's out there."
Finally, with Conan O'Brien — who was courted by Fox some months ago — readying a new show for TNT, Carey was also asked about Fox's late-night prospects.
"Late night is not something we have to have," he said. "I would put it in the opportunistic category. It's a tough market right now. There's a lot of competition."
