Showtime has recently released its first-ever full professional boxing match in virtual reality. The 360-degree video featured the fight between Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs and Peter Quillin. Jacobs wins by technical knockout in the first round.
The fight was available on YouTube, where viewers could move the video in a 360 view, and through Google Cardboard or on the Samsung Gear VR via the Milk VR app.
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The YouTube version of the match did not get awesome feedback. Mashable says the angle really doesn’t put you in the middle of the action.
But this is a bold first step in what could be a great way to view Boxing in the future.
Showtime has plans to explore more 360-degree video opportunities as the trend in immersive, 360-degree videos is beginning to gain traction in the sports world. The For example, the NBA live-streamed a Golden State Warriors game in 360-degree video with mostly positive reviews. One bit of feedback was that it was difficult to get clear views of the scoreboard so keeping track of who was winning via VR is difficult.
Companies like Showtime are still working through their first hiccups, but virtual reality is a technology that is continuously being developed and holds a lot of potential for the future of sports broadcasts.