UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has launched a new experimental service ahead of the 2016 summer Olympic Games that will provide 360 degree video coverage of the action in Rio de Janeiro.
The BBC Sport 360 service starts for the opening of the Games tomorrow (Friday) and will be available through a dedicated trial app, available now on Android, iOS and Samsung Gear VR devices.
The service will provide live and on-demand content of a range of sports, including athletics and boxing, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. There will be live 360 video footage of an event each day during the Games, with around 100 hours in total and a choice of up to four different camera angles, plus a daily 360 video highlights package.
Coverage will also be available online through the BBC Taster platform allowing people to try, rate and give feedback to help the BBC learn from the experimental service.
Will Saunders, editorial lead of BBC Taster, said: “This is a hugely exciting next step in our 360 and virtual reality experiments. There’s huge potential for immersive video in sport coverage, as well as many other genres, and we want to explore that potential directly with audiences. That’s why we experiment out in the open, so people can tell us what works, what doesn’t and whether there’s an appetite for more.”
The BBC is the long-time rights-holder for the Olympic Games in the UK.