Star India, the media rights holder of the Indian Premier League, has announced that it will broadcast live matches in virtual reality on the Hotstar video streaming service this year.
Fans in India watching in virtual reality will be able to select different camera angles and from the commentary language of their choice with customization through the “Super-fan-feed.” Star India will broadcast matches in six different languages across TV and digital. On Hotstar, fans can also use cricket emojis to enhance the experience.
This isn’t Star India’s first time streaming sports in virtual reality on Hotstar, as in 2016, it partnered with VOKE (now Intel True VR) to broadcast the Kabaddi World Cup.
It’s Star India’s coverage of the IPL that will draw huge numbers, as it targets a reach of 700 million across TV and digital. It beat out Facebook with a bid of $2.55 billion to win IPL media rights for 2018-22.
“Over its 10-year journey, the IPL has grown into the single biggest property by far on Indian television. And now that it is on the Star India network across both, television and digital, we are set to use the confluence of technology, consumer insight, and experience in cricket coverage, to broaden the outreach and experience even further,” Star India managing director Sanjay Gupta said in a statement. “The VIVO IPL 2018 will be a 6-month-long fiesta with new-age technology putting fans at the heart of the experience. We are confident that the VIVO IPL 2018, as re-imagined by Star India, will empower viewers, advertisers and the media & entertainment eco system of India with greater convenience and viewing pleasure, audience deliveries and all-round growth.”