Hold on your living room: 3D TVs are here!

Fans of Captain EO and IMAX theatres will have more to cheer about as electronics companies begin unveiling their new 3D TV sets this summer.

Electronics companies like Philips, Sony and Samsung are already beginning to shell out the new 3D-ready TV sets, allowing viewers to be able to watch live TV in 3D for the very first time.

June 11, 2010 will be a monumental day for sports fans as ESPN plans to begin broadcasting live 3D sports on its new 3D channel on that day. Up to 85 live sporting events will be shown by ESPN in 3D each year.

As with other 3D images, viewers will need 3D glasses to watch TV without running the risk of getting a headache from the blurred images.

Many 3D-ready TVs come with at least two pairs of 3D glasses, which some, including Black Eyed Peas performer Will.I.Am, have already turned into a fashion statement by wearing a pair of customized rays at this year’s Grammy Awards show during a 3D tribute to Michael Jackson.

While standard, plastic 3D glasses cost around $1, fashionable 3D glasses can cost hundreds of dollars, including Sony’s standard $133-a-pair 3D specs.

This technology, which began showing up on TV in the early 1990’s, is still not perfect, and that’s what has many consumers worried.

Consumers will need to purchase a new TV to view 3D events and shows, and such expenses have proven difficult during tough economic times.

Best Buy’s 3D TV prices range from $1,999.99 for a 40-inch Samsung to $3,499.99 for a 55-inch Samsung.

James Cameron’s hit 3D film, ­“Avatar,” is set to release on Blu-ray near the end of April—the same time many 3D TVs are being released. For on-screen media consumers, there may be no better pairing.