It is of the utmost importance content providers focus on virtual reality. There are many opportunities waiting to be explored in this regard. Intel and NBC are partnering up to broadcast the 2018 Winter Olympics in VR later this year. It is a major partnership which will help determine whether or not VR broadcasts are indeed the way to go. Over 50 hours of coverage will be viewable from within your favorite VR headset.
2018 Winter Olympics in Virtual Reality
It is evident the sports industry has taken a liking to virtual reality. All major US franchises are experimenting with this technology as we speak. Although the content is still very limited in quantity, things are slowly improving as we speak. The first big test of its kind will be upon us later this year. Once the 2018 Winter Olympics kick off, NBC will begin broadcasting large parts of it in virtual reality. Over 50 hours of coverage will be made available to viewers in the United States.
Although it remains to be seen if there is any interest in this content, the opportunity certainly presents itself. It is the first time any broadcast network captures Winter Olympics in VR. Moreover, it is also the first time this programming in VR is streamed live in the United Status across different devices and platforms. A very interesting milestone for NBC and Intel, as both companies feel now is the time to experiment with this technology.
NBC Olympics President Gary Zenkel comments as follows:
“The Olympics have long been an opportunity to showcase emerging media technology. With the help of Intel’s industry-leading virtual reality technology, NBC Olympics will deliver a transformative experience that will bring to Olympic fans an entirely new perspective on the speed, thrills, and excitement of an Olympic Winter Games.”
It will be interesting to see whether or not many viewers will tune in. More specifically, the appeal of VR is still rather meager at best. By focusing on different spots, such as curling, snowboarding, ski jumping, and ice hockey, the new effort may pay dividends in the long run. All you need to access this content is a TV subscription which comes with NBC and use the credentials to log in through the app.
If you liked this article make sure to follow us on twitter @thevrbase and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with the latest VR trends and news.
