The first 3D TV sets are not set to hit stores until midyear but the porn industry is already shooting and selling immersive 3D films.

Adult movie makers are known for being technology pioneers, having helped drive the adoption of previous new technologies such as VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, the internet and high-definition.

BadGirls in 3D, an exhibitor at the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas, is so early with its adoption of 3D that it is selling a $US3999 ($4320) kit that includes a Mitsubishi 60-inch 3DTV, two pairs of 3D glasses and a tiny PC that is used to stream the 3D films from the web.

I think it's so cool ... Breanne Benson. Photo: Asher Moses
Several hours of porn are shot using 3D cameras and uploaded to the site every week. It can be accessed for $US19.95 a month.

Producer Lance Johnson said in an interview he would start selling stand-alone 3D porn discs later this year once 3D TVs start to hit the market.

At the Consumer Electronics Show, which runs over the same dates as the adult expo, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, LG and Panasonic unveiled a slew of 3D-capable televisions, Blu-ray players and home theatre systems.

Samsung and Sony said they planned to have models on the Australian market midyear, to coincide with the football World Cup, which will be shot in 3D.

“We want to bring this technology into the home and we will do this via a hardware 'bundle' that will work with streaming 3D porn,” Johnson said.

“You can log onto to [our website] to purchase the complete hardware package and subscribe. From there, simply turn on your PC, log on and put on the active 3D glasses.”

Movie studios are also gearing up to release 3D films on Blu-ray discs about the same time, including both films shot in 3D, such as Avatar, and 2D films remastered in 3D such as Sony's Jimi Hendrix discs.

In the US, Fox Sports, Discovery and other broadcasters have announced new 3D channels and plan to air live action sports and other content on them.

3D has been a runaway hit in cinemas around the world, with the latest release, Avatar, grossing more than $US1.34 billion worldwide since its release on December 18.

Johnson noted that an early 3D porn film based on old technology, which aired in some cinemas in 1969, grossed what was then an astonishing $US27 million.

“I think it's so cool,” said Breanne Benson, 25, who appeared in two of Johnson's 3D porn films.

“It [3D] is a little bit nerve racking … but no one's ever done 3D porn before so I'm very excited.”

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/