The National Hockey League has announced a deal with NextVR to exclusively use its services for virtual reality highlights at 2019 marquee events.
The partnership kicked off with NextVR producing a virtual reality experience captured at the 2019 NHL All-Star Game last weekend, where the league also separately tested its new puck and player tracking system. Available for free on a new NHL channel within the NextVR app, digital highlights were produced by NextVR in a 3D stereoscopic VR format.
“NHL fans are passionate and always on the look-out for more action and adrenaline,” said Danny Keens, NextVR’s vice president of content. “This partnership will give them sensations that only fans at the arena have been able to experience so far.”
Content provided by NextVR will include post-game highlights provided in an immersive 360-degree experience from the NHL’s biggest events. The feed will be peppered with visualizations that show the excitement and energy of fans, speed of NHL players and teams, big hits, key matchups, and goals. The aim is to provide fans watching at home the experience of being in the arena.
“Not every fan can experience our marquee events in-person, but NextVR’s immersive content will bring fans closer to the on-ice action than ever before and make them feel like they are at a live NHL game,” said Chris Golier, NHL’s vice president of business development.
Another participant in the deal is Disney Streaming Services, the parent company of ESPN+ and operator of the flagship NHL app and out-of-market package, NHL.TV.
NextVR has been providing VR sports highlights for a few years and has a longstanding partnership with the NBA. The basketball league recently expanded its partnership with NextVR to provide virtual reality content through its subscription streaming service, League Pass, every night this season.
Copa90 launched a virtual reality channel through the NextVR app last summer to feature a behind-the-scenes profile of U.S. men’s national team star Christian Pulisic that was recorded during the International Champions Cup. NextVR has broadcast live soccer games as well, including a high-resolution virtual reality broadcast of the A.C. Milan v. Manchester United matchup last July.
SportTechie Takeaway
The NHL has been busy testing out its storytelling options. At the All-Star game, the league gave broadcasting partner NBC access to official league data pulled from its beta tracking system for a second screen experience that highlighted athlete skating speeds and other metrics.