Starting Friday: Immersive basketball on the Vision Pro – entire Lakers games
As announced, Apple is beginning to broadcast NBA games on the Vision Pro. Other sports could follow in the future.
Immersive basketball game: So far, Apple has primarily released short films.
(Image: Apple)
Apple promises an “unique live experience” for Los Angeles Lakers fans starting January 9th, this coming Friday. Then, for the first time, full live games from the US basketball league NBA will be broadcast in two apps on the Vision Pro headset. Apple had already announced the immersive project in the fall. Previously, the company had always only released shorter films and sports clips in this format with spatial playback.
Expensive cameras live only in certain regions
Several Blackmagic URSA cameras are used for filming. The devices, which cost $30,000 per unit, record at 8160 by 7200 pixels. Apple specifically calls this “Front Row,” and it's intended to feel like you have your seat at the sidelines, traditionally the most expensive seats at NBA games. Apple is working with the NBA itself and the Spectrum broadcast network. In practice, this means that only Vision Pro users in the regional broadcast area of the Los Angeles Lakers and three other global regions will be able to experience it live – this is due to complex rights situations, not the technology.
These include Hawaii, Southern California, and parts of Nevada, including Las Vegas. Additionally, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea are included. A total of six games are planned until March, with the Lakers vs. Milwaukee Bucks kicking things off on Friday. Fortunately, users in other areas are not completely excluded: they will receive game replays on the Vision Pro, albeit days later. According to Apple, Friday's game will be available in Germany within 24 hours.
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NBA app with free account
Users in Germany can watch the replay if they have a free NBA account and install the NBA app. France and Great Britain are also included in Europe, but unfortunately, Austria and Switzerland are not.
The visuals are said to be quite impressive, at least according to Apple: “Spectrum Front Row in Apple Immersive brings viewers closer to every pass, every shot, and every block. Game graphics such as subtitles, lineups, game and shot clocks, and scores are displayed in 3D, as if they are floating directly in front of the viewers.” Spatial audio is also included, for which Apple uses special Ambisonic microphones.
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