Virtual reality has finally arrived for Super Bowl LI, the first time ever the technology will be integrated into the Big Game between the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on Feb. 5.
FOX Sports and virtual reality production company LiveLike announced on Tuesday that they’ll be partnering to deliver the top 20 most exciting Super Bowl highlights in near real-time, which will include the four top plays from each quarter and prepared highlights for pre- and post-game. Fans will be able to choose from six different angles including the 50-yard line, end zone and a preferred cart cam which will follow the line of scrimmage.
“At this point, this is a very additive feature, not meant to replace the game, but to enrich it,” said Miheer Walavalkar, Chief Business Officer at LiveLike. “Imagine if you could have watched David Tyree’s helmet catch, or Malcolm Butler’s game-ending interception from the sideline or right behind the line of scrimmage. You’d feel like you were really there.”
Walavalkar further explained that the announcement “shouldn’t come as a surprise given the enormity of the event on the sporting calendar and the importance of the Super Bowl” to both companies. He also cited that LiveLike has been an on-going VR partner with FOX since last Fall, having helped produce a handful of college football games such as Oklahoma-Ohio State, the Big Ten Championship Game and Red River Showdown between Oklahoma and Texas. Walavalkar even said that it “wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to think that the next Super Bowl will also be in VR” depending on how this experience shapes up along with future deal-making discussions.
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Though it won’t be a ‘live’ virtual reality broadcast like the previously mentioned games, Super Bowl LI will be the first time that FOX and LiveLike have partnered around short-form content as well. After downloading the FOX Sports VR app and signing in with the television provider information, fans will be able to experience the top highlights either with Samsung Gear VR/cardboard headset or without a headset via a 360-degree smartphone view. Additionally, users will receive a push notification alerting them to tune-in any time a highlight is uploaded to the app.
“We are thrilled to bring what we believe is the most innovative sports viewing experience to the Super Bowl via the FOX Sports VR app” Michael Davies, FOX Sports Senior Vice President of Field and Technical Operations said in a statement. “The LiveLike platform helps us bring viewers inside the stadium for the best moments throughout the game.”