Well I was thinking for a few moments that this 3-D thing was just a fad, but after glowing reviews from the Thursday Night Football game last week, it appears networks are going all-in on the technology. So much so that Turner Sports is planning on providing the NBA All Star Game in 3-D to approximately 35 states, 80 theaters in those states, and on 160 screens, this February. Via Turner PR....

Turner Sports, The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. today announced that they will team up to broadcast TNT’s coverage of NBA All-Star Saturday Night in Live 3D to 80 digitally-equipped theaters across the United States. The announcement represents the first-ever fully marketed deal to deliver an NBA sporting event to the public in Live 3D. The Live 3D HD event will be shown on a nationwide basis and continues to expand the league’s groundbreaking efforts in 3D HD.

Overall, the live 3D HD event will be shown on up to 160 screens in Carmike Cinemas, Celebration Cinemas, Cinema West, Emagine, Galaxy Theatres, Marquee Cinemas, MJR, NCG, Rave Motion Pictures, Showcase and UltraStar Cinema locations, and will serve fans in 35 states across the country

The 24th annual NBA All-Star Saturday Night broadcast, expected to be one of the year’s most watched sporting events, is scheduled to air on Saturday, February 14th, 2009 at 8 pm ET on TNT. NBA All-Star Saturday Night on TNT last year was the most watched in the event’s 23 year history, enjoying increases in households and significant growth in all key demographics.

The first I heard about the technology was following an extremely limited screening at last year's ASG, and the reviews then were tremendous as well. Something on this scale though could end up blowing up in Turner's collective face. I think the idea on a whole is a good one, but with not many people knowing about 3-D Sports (or where the heck a Cinedigm Digital Cinema is), there could be a good bit of empty seats come February 14th.