Laguna Beach-based virtual reality content maker NextVR Inc. has struck a multi-year deal with NBA Digital in New York to live-stream National Basketball Association games in virtual reality during the upcoming season.
The first game, between the Sacramento Kings and the San Antonio Spurs, will air on Oct. 27, with the full one-game-per-week schedule to be announced next month.
The “programming marks the first regular schedule of live games delivered in VR by a professional sports league,” according to the NBA.
The broadcasts will be “fully produced with dedicated announcers, multiple unmanned camera angles and optimized graphics,” while “in-venue entertainment, behind-the-scenes footage from the arena and VR-specific commentary” will air during the game breaks.
Basketball fans who have a subscription to NBA League Pass can watch the games via the NBA Channel on the NextVR app for the Samsung Gear VR.
The company, which was founded in 2009 and has raised $35.5 million to date, inked a five-year agreement in January with Fox Sports to broadcast sporting events in virtual reality.
NBA Digital is “cross-platform portfolio of digital assets” NBA manages together with Turner Sports.
