Reports on various internet portals claim that Philips is planning to add 3D support to its Cinema 21:9, the world’s first TV with a Cinemascope-format screen.

February 23, 2010 — A number of reports online claim that Dutch manufacturer Philips plans to introduce a 3D version of its Cinema 21:9 TV. The TV is expected to work with active shutter glasses, which alternately close off their left and right lenses at high speed, so that each of the viewer’s eyes only sees the correct image. The problem with these glasses, unlike the passive filter glasses used in cinemas, is that they’re expensive. And, according to these reports, Philips won’t be shipping the glasses or the necessary timing transmitter with the TVs as standard, so viewers will be forced to make significant extra investment — on top of the considerable price tag for the TV itself: Current non-3D versions of the Cinema 21:9 sell for about 4,000 GBP.

Philips’ Cinema 21:9 is an LCD TV in Cinemascope format. We reviewed the original model back in summer 2009; Philips is expected to launch a 3D-ready version soon.