Daytona 500. Premier Boxing Champions. 2016 U.S. Open.
Now, No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 14 Oklahoma.
Over the last two years at FOX Sports, there has been an heightened focus on producing sporting events in virtual reality, with the broadcast company offering NASCAR, boxing and golf experiences for its viewers earlier this year, among others.
College football can now be added to the list as the Buckeyes and Sooners square off Saturday night in Norman, Okla. as fans will have the opportunity to watch the primetime game via the FOX Sports VR app.
In partnership with LiveLike — a virtual reality company that assists rights holders and teams in delivering live sports programming — FOX Sports will be providing a first-of-its-kind experience powered by LiveLike technology.
While fans can watch the broadcast through a Gear VR or cardboard headset, they can also watch the game through a 360-degree experience on their mobile devices without any other equipment. It is a partnership FOX Sports and LiveLike see expanding to more college football games this fall and other sports, too.
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“FOX Sports’ commitment to innovation makes them the perfect company for us to work with as we roll out a VR experience that allows today’s sports fan to lean-in and watch sports in an entirely new way,” Andre Lorenceau, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveLike, said in a statement.
Added Devin Poolman, FOX Sports SVP Digital Platforms, Technical Operations, “It was clear from the beginning that LiveLike had a unique focus on user experience in virtual reality beyond just video capture. We were impressed with how they mixed virtual and live video elements to create an overall experience that works for viewers — there is a lot more we think we can do together with that approach.”
Through the app, users can watch the Sooners and Buckeyes from a “Virtual Suite” or on the field while also getting a glimpse of both teams’ rosters, season schedule and stats. A video board inside the stadium will give fans the option of simultaneously watching the live FOX Sports broadcast as well.
For Poolman and his colleague, Michael Davies, FOX Sports SVP Field and Technical Operations, they’ll be paying close attention to the overall audience size since anyone with an iOS or Android device can view the virtual reality telecast, not just someone with a headset.
“We see VR as a platform that will evolve and our goal right now is to experiment and learn,” added Poolman. “…The primary goal is to deliver an amazing experience that will inspire our viewers.”
As FOX Sports delves further into virtual reality — it also announced a five-year deal with NextVR earlier this year — it will continue to look for unique ways to integrate brands into the production without distracting fans and disrupting their view of the game.
“The ability to weave the brand in to the VR experience organically is vital,” Poolman said. “We see this evolving from basic placements on the field or in the virtual suite to richer engagements that take advantage of the interactive and virtual components of the platform.”