Looking for ESPN 3D on Comcast? Get an MPEG-4 cable box first
By Richard Lawler 
posted June 11th 2010 9:19AM
posted June 11th 2010 9:19AM
Want to know how things are going? Check @bjdraw on Twitter for live updates on the 3D broadcast straight from ESPN's headquarters in Bristol.
Update: We've confirmed with Comcast that the suddenly restrictive cable box requirements are because ESPN 3D (and future 3D content) is being transmitted in the MPEG-4 format, instead of older MPEG-2 compression. That should ease up any bandwidth concerns, but unfortunately means most people will need to swap their cable box to get the new channel. Is living in the future fun yet?
Comcast information on set-top box requirements, and channel listings:
Customers will need a Comcast set top box capable of receiving content in MPEG4 format to enjoy ESPN 3D and additional 3D content offered in the future. Carrying 3D content in MPEG4 format allows for greater efficiency with our network capacity, and will allow us to add even more 3D content going forward, both for linear channels and OnDemand content.
What channel will ESPN3D be broadcast on?
ESPN3D will be broadcast on different channels, depending on where you live. The list below shows which channel ESPN3D will be broadcast on in your area.
Eastern U.S. (Washington D.C., PA, NJ, VA): Channel 980
Northern U.S. (MA, ME, IL, MI, CT, NH): Channel 334
Northern U.S. (Indiana, except Kokomo (334)): Channel 1603
Southern U.S. (GA, FL, TX, AL): Channel 790
Western U.S. (CA, WA, OR, CO, NM, AZ): Channel 898
Anyone watching the world cup in 3-d? How is it? Enjoying good ole' HD here.
So tivos don't get the channel why? Looking at my guide, I don't get any of those channels, which isn't a problem since I don't have a 3DTV, but still pisses me off. It seems like most people tech savvy enough to spend the extra on a 3DTV would have a tivo.
I will be watching Uruguay vs. France in 3D. The best buy near my house has one of their samsung 3D TV with ESPN 3D. Just want to see if it's all that and a bag of chips.
comcast s*cks... have have spent over 40 hours speaking with them confirming that the 3d would come... they sent me to the store for a special box...i have voice mails from managers everything....
8 hours before the game they told me the 3d is unavailable... i houston
this morning i got up to a new message from another supervisor telling me it was available... after speaking with her for another hour.. she figured out that it was not...
Do Tivos not work for sure? The Series3, HD, HDXL, Premiere, and PremiereXL all support MPEG4. Now they may not have that support turned on for cable channels. That is why I ask if they for sure don't work as all the hardware is there.
@gabmasterjcc That's the info from Comcast, if you could get the package activated on one and try it, I don't know for sure what would happen. I'll check with Comcast and TiVo and see what I can find out.
@RichardLawler
I just wanted to say, that I don't necessarily expect it to work (at least not right now). I am more looking to see if it will work in the future. Basically is there some other limitation other than just MPEG4 that might exclude the Tivo. Right now I don't know if Tivo has the ability to play MPEG4 recorded from cable as to my knowledge this is the first cable provider to transmit via MPEG4 period.
@gabmasterjcc The language in the FAQ would indicate it's something that can be fixed, but I'm checking on it.
@RichardLawler I am being told that the Tivo with Cable Card now supports it. Perhaps it was something in the MPEG header that needed to be there to tell the Tivo's MPEG4 compatible chip what to do.
need ESPN3D.com