The Dentsu agency has made an investment in US virtual reality company LiveLike through its corporate venture capital fund Dentsu Ventures.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Dentsu said it has made the investment in the New York-based company due to its belief in the potential of the VR market. LiveLike specialises in enabling broadcasters and sports teams to deliver immersive, live sports viewing experiences.
Through the LiveLike platform, broadcasters and networks can use existing video facilities to deliver live VR, eliminating the need to prepare special VR recording equipment themselves.
LiveLike gives viewers the opportunity to watch live sports in virtual reality from a ‘private suite’ that mimics a real VIP suite experience, complete with additional feeds, statistics and a jumbotron showing the game’s television broadcast.
Dentsu said in a statement: “Dentsu Ventures expects further expansion of the sports VR market, and, through cooperation with LiveLike and other technology startups, will explore new business models such as the creation of value-added broadcast content and marketing activities in the VR space.
“Looking ahead, the Dentsu Group will continue to provide support for the global expansion of the innovative solutions developed by LiveLike, as well as for other new businesses that the company will develop in the future.”