DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet, and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, lead the field to the green flag for the running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 57th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 22, 2015 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
NextVR, the leader in live-action virtual reality broadcast technology, and FOX Sports will begin a five-year partnership offering fans live, virtual reality coverage of the nation's top sporting events.
This partnership to broadcast live sports in virtual reality is the first of its kind and will include a range of top sporting events where FOX Sports holds the broadcast rights. In January, NextVR and FOX Sports showcased the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) matches in virtual reality, and now will focus on Sunday's Daytona 500, televised nationally on FOX (noon ET).
"We have worked with FOX Sports for over a year to test live, virtual reality programming across several sports," said Brad Allen, executive chairman, NextVR. "This wide-ranging agreement is proof that our technology provides an exciting and compelling option to witness great sporting events in virtual reality."
Racing enthusiasts who experience FOX Sports' coverage of the Daytona 500 in virtual reality will feel as if they are watching the race amongst the fans at the track. The immersive, high-definition virtual reality broadcast will bring fans to the starting line, the middle of the infield and with team racing crews as they change tires on pit row. The live virtual stream includes audio commentary and graphics highlighting the race leaders.
"It's all about delivering something new and exciting for our viewers," said Eric Shanks, FOX Sports president, COO & executive producer. "Virtual reality is the next great frontier in immersive experiences for fans across a wide variety of sports. It's a rapidly changing technology, and this deal with NextVR positions us to be on the front lines for years to come."
FOX Sports and NextVR have tested live virtual reality broadcasts in 2015 at the Auto Club 400 NASCAR race in Fontana, Calif., and the United States Open Golf Championship from Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash.
Future virtual reality programming on FOX Sports will be announced soon and available on the NextVR portal, including within a dedicated FOX Sports section.
How to watch the FOX Sports Daytona 500 experience in virtual reality
FOX Sports' Daytona 500 virtual reality broadcast will be available free through the NextVR portal. Samsung Gear VR owners can download the NextVR app on any Gear VR headset compatible phones. For detailed instructions, go to www.nextvr.com/gearvr-live.
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