After FOX Sports and NextVR agreed on their five-year partnership, consumers have been able to view numerous broadcasts in virtual reality. The Daytona 500, the MLB Home Run Derby (powered by MLBAM in virtual reality) and next will be Bundesliga’s season opening match of Bayern München vs. Werder Bremen from Allianz Arena live in Munich on Friday at 2:20pmET.
Like many of the other rights holders, this will be the first time the Bundesliga will be broadcast live in virtual reality to an international audience (the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, Asia and select Europe countries). There will be a total of seven cameras positioned around the arena to help provide the best possible experience. The virtual reality broadcast will include commentary from former American professional soccer player and Bundesliga player, Heath Pearce, and FOX Sports’ commentator Mark Rogondino.
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“We are thrilled to continue our relationship with FOX Sports and for the opportunity to produce a Bundesliga match. We are excited about the growing diversity of NextVR’s content portfolio as we continue to provide international sports fans with a wide array of options including the opening game of the Bundesliga season,” said Executive Chairman of NextVR Brad Allen.
NEWS: NextVR and @FOXSports to Broadcast @Bundesliga_EN LIVE in #VR Aug 26 2:20pm ET. https://t.co/TVDYX2czl8 pic.twitter.com/TSpthRnI5U
— NextVR (@nextvr) August 22, 2016
To view with NextVR, fans will need to have access to a Samsung Gear VR headset and a Samsung mobile phone (the plan is to be available to more hardware in the future but not in time for this game). Then they will have to download the free NextVR app. When in the app, fans will be able to view the games from multiple angles including ground-level shots.
“The pipeline for captivating content in virtual reality keeps growing as we work with NextVR, and the Bundesliga match is an opportunity to provide fans with immersive content in the world’s most popular sport. Providing early adopters of virtual reality with content in new markets allows fans globally to be a part of the action and take their viewing experiences to the next level,” said David Nathanson, FOX Sports Head of Business Operations .