The days of black and white television are long gone, simple color television is rarely thought of, and even HDTV will soon be forgotten, thanks to the “science experiment” that is getting ready to be unveiled by ESPN Network.

On June 11, ESPN 3D Television will go live. Although the 3D network will not be 24/7 coming out of the gate, it is sure to have a profound effect on television viewers, as well as advertisers that help finance the ambitious plan.

According to the research firm iSuppli, an estimated 4.2 million 3D-enabled TV sets are projected to sell in 2010, at an average unit price of $1,768 per set. While the hype surrounding this latest project is warranted, the initial content will be limited. While networks such as Discovery Communications Inc. are jumping on board, others may give it time before making the leap.

“I think you’re going to see that it will be analogous to what happened with HDTV, where, at the beginning, there were a few advertisers that really understood it and wanted to be a part of it”, Chuck Pagano of ESPN states. “And then, as you build up a track record, you get more interest from more marketers.”

Although there is the realization that it will take time for the new concept to gain the maximum acceptance, with both viewers and advertisers, there is little doubt that the 3D television will soon be the next big thing across all media platforms.