The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) on Thursday announced that its specialized study group has developed the standards for 3DTV. New ITU specifications on 3DTV will provide much needed tools to evaluate, make, and exchange 3DTV programmes. Intended to promote the further use of this format worldwide, the new specifications are being submitted to administrations for approval.

The ITU-R specs focus on 3DTV programme production and broadcasting in the two formats that are in use worldwide: the '720p' and the '1080i/p HDTV' environments. Recommendations were also agreed on the digital interfaces used in studios for 3DTV programme production, and on the general requirements for 3DTV.

ITU-R Study Group 6 also agreed a recommendation for the methods to evaluate the quality of 3DTV images, which relates to three aspects, or quality factors: picture quality, depth, and comfort levels.

ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Toure says, "3DTV has made a huge impact on TV viewers around the world and led to new developments and opportunities in the broadcast and manufacturing sectors."

The standards, he says, "will provide fresh impetus to this exciting television format."