Penthouse 3D: Will Europe embrace a new dimension of porn?
Penthouse has rolled out the world's first 3D adult channel. It's certainly a technological breakthrough, but is it a good idea?
Penthouse is adding a new dimension to its porn by launching the world's first 3D adult television channel. On Tuesday, Penthouse 3D joined the lineup of Europe's Astra satellite network. Television sets equipped with 3D technology still have not gained widespread popularity since manufacturers began touting them last year, and there has been "a relative dearth of 3D programming," says Mark Hachman in PC Magazine. Will the new Penthouse channel help boost sales, or will the interest of European viewers fail to be aroused?
This is a perfect match: "Fake jiggling breasts, pert bobbing behinds, and the rampant thrusting of hips" make porn an ideal candidate for 3D treatment, says Steven Mostyn in The Tech Herald. "European smut lovers will be thrilled" with this new channel.
"Penthouse thrusts 3D sex at European porn lovers"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Porn always leads the way: "Trust the porn industry to be at the forefront" of technology "yet again," says Edwin Kee at Ubergizmo. Just as internet porn helped improve online transactions and website security, this new channel could boost sales of 3D flat-screen TVs. And if your co-workers start coming in looking "more bleary eyed than ever, you might want to ask them just how their 3D viewing experience has been."
"Penthouse to bring silicon bags in 3D"
Some things are better left low-tech: It's worth remembering that "the adult industry's last new-technology foray" — its move to high-definition Blu-Ray DVDs — didn't work out so well, says New Zealand's National Business Review. "Under the unmerciful gaze of high def cameras, it turned out not even porn stars look like porn stars."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com