This holiday season will be critical for 3D HDTV sales. Author of the article on the LG announcement, Matthew DeCarlo, and commenters to his post believe the industry is getting behind a big push for 3D HDTV. They do express some concern about the Catch-22 relationship with hardware and content for 3D to catch on. Will there be programming to make it worthwhile? Meanwhile programmers want to see if there is a market to invest in making the programming. What it comes down to at this early stage of the game are those early adopters of technology and whether there are enough big players to make 3D viable.

An impressive list of manufacturers and programmers are willing to try. Content providers are starting to push programming, first with movies, Avatar, Up, Alice in Wonderland and several others. Television programming is also getting a boost with ESPN and Discovery. You can just imagine how some shows and events will be enhanced by 3D. Golf for example, is such a game of depth and detail. Whether it’s the camera angle from behind the golfer looking into a 170 yard approach slightly up hill, or the side view of a 25 foot putt on an undulating green, 3D in HD would be a clearly better viewing experience. HDGuru.com has more examples of 3D HDTV content.

On the manufacturing side in addition to LG, Sony, Panasonic, and Samsung are pushing new products into the last half of 2010. Most manufacturers will include 3D glasses that work with their sets, but likely those glasses will not work with sets from other manufacturers. Fear not, there are plenty of options for universal 3D glasses. Just like the universal remote gives you power throughout your house and beyond, so too will you be able to purchase 3D glasses that work in your house and when you crash your neighbor’s Super Bowl Party.

Take a Look at some sets here:

You can pre-order the Sony Bravia 60” 3D from JR.com

This Samsung 46″ LED 3D with glasses and player you can get delivered right now from B&H Photo:

Sharp is the latest to join the 3D home theater craze. Later this year, they will be launching their own 3D LCD television set. Sharp claims the colors will be brighter and more vivid than those of existing models, which include TVs made by LG, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony.

While the success of Avatar has driven demand for at-home 3D HDTV options, are consumers ready for a home theater option that requires special glasses? Early reviews of HDTV are generally positive and the new 3D sets still function as well as high-end 2D sets.

With full 2D functionality and high picture quality, consider this a low-risk opportunity to invest in the future.