TOKYO:  Sony Corp. may start selling Blu-ray discs showing 3D versions of its archive of movies and videos as early as the 12 months starting April 1.

“We’ll probably be able to start next fiscal year, if we can convert them into 3D with good effects,” Joe Nakata, a deputy general manager for Sony’s 3D strategy unit, said in an interview yesterday in Tokyo. “Companies specializing in conversion processes are starting up in India and the infrastructure is getting prepared.”

The producer of “2012” and “Michael Jackson’s This Is It,” aims to take advantage of its archived video content to trigger an expansion of the 3D technology from cinemas to households. The company plans to start selling 9 models of 3D Bravia televisions and a Blu-Ray disc player this summer, when it will also enable PlayStation 3 machines to run games in 3D by updating programs.

Tokyo-based Sony, which projects sales from 3D products without content will reach 1 trillion yen ($11 billion) in the year to March 2013, is in talks with TV stations and game software makers to add a variety of 3D content, Nakata said. He declined to comment on Sony’s projection for sales of 3D content.

The company said last month it will team with Discovery Communications Inc. and Imax Corp. to start a 3D dedicated TV network in 2011.

Rivals such as Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s biggest TV maker, LG Electronics Inc. and Panasonic Corp. also plan to begin selling 3D TVs this year.

Sony rose 1.7% to 3,210 yen at 9:15 a.m. on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, compared with a 0.5% advance by the benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average. The shares have gained 20% this year.