Intel has made a deal with major league baseball in the US. The partnership will see Intel VR live streaming one game every Tuesday during the 2017 major league baseball (MLB) regular season without charge. The programme has already started this year. Each of the VR broadcasts will also be available for on-demand replays and post-game highlights delivered in VR. In the following seasons during the three-year deal, ramped up game coverage will be available along with the introduction of paid packages.
The VR broadcasting uses Intel’s True VR platform which is currently only available on Samsung’s Gear VR headset. True VR employs panoramic stereoscopic cameras derived from Intel’s 2016 acquisition of VR broadcasting company Voke. The cameras offer a panoramic 3D view of the stadium, but not a 360° view.
For the games streamed during the 2017 season, there will be up to four camera angles available per game, which users can freely swap between, or choose to watch a produced version which can also include standard broadcast camera views embedded into the virtual view. The virtual view will also offer up-to-the-moment player and team statistics throughout the game, including pitcher and batter data and in-app commentary.
Intel will provide live VR streaming of major league baseball
