By Jeff Baumgartner

Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) is entering the 3DTV era tonight while one of its fiercest rivals, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), expects to do the same sometime later this year.

Cablevision is starting things off by offering Wednesday night’s New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders hockey game in 3D format on the MSG network to the sliver of subs in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut who already own 3D-capable televisions and are using the MSO’s high-definition-capable set-top boxes. The MSO says it will mark the first network hockey telecast ever produced in 3D.

Cablevision also announced Wednesday that it has licensed the stereoscopic RealD format to deliver hi-def 3D content directly to customer homes. The deal also gives Cablevision access to some RealD “tools” to help format the MSO’s 3DTV content, but Cablevision has yet to say when it will begin to offer more 3D fare or what other 3D content it intends to carry in the early going.

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