In March 2010, Wired magazine had an article about how the CEO (Howard Stringer at the time) was going to save Sony. The headline says it all:
"Saving Sony: CEO Howard Stringer Plans to Focus on 3-D TV"
It probably seemed like a good idea at the time. Avatar, the film, came out in December 2009, was 3-D, and was hugely popular. You had to have a 3-D TV to watch it in 3D at home. Other movies were being made in 3D. 3D was the future. And then it wasn't.
Yes, somehow many people believed 3D TV screens would take off, and then they did not. There were a lot of consumer surveys implying otherwise, however there is no strong incentive to buy them. Could be chicken and Egg problem, or simply the TV technology is not impressive enough to justify the premium.
"Saving Sony: CEO Howard Stringer Plans to Focus on 3-D TV"
It probably seemed like a good idea at the time. Avatar, the film, came out in December 2009, was 3-D, and was hugely popular. You had to have a 3-D TV to watch it in 3D at home. Other movies were being made in 3D. 3D was the future. And then it wasn't.
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/03/ff_sony_howard_stringe...