NBA expands its virtual reality experience to include Oculus Venues

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has continued its dedication to providing the most immersive virtual reality (VR) experience for fans, after announcing a new expansion with its over-the-top (OTT) streaming service.

In association with the league’s official live VR partner NextVR, NBA League Pass – one of the digital assets jointly managed by the NBA and Turner Sports – has increased its distribution of VR experiences to include Oculus Venues.

Oculus Venues lets you attend LIVE events in VR with all the sounds, lights, and energy of really being there.

Additionally, NextVR will continue to feature weekly immersive stereoscopic 3D games, along with regular streaming of all League Pass games in NextVR Screening Room and other on-demand content in the League Pass channel of the company’s own app.

“Now in our third NBA season, we continue to evolve our VR broadcast to provide the highest quality, most immersive NBA experience in VR,” NextVR co-founder and chief executive, David Cole said.

“Every night of the NBA season, NextVR is providing fans worldwide with multiple live VR viewing options, coupled with free on-demand highlights.

“The recent additions of Oculus Rift and HTC Vive makes NextVR available on every major VR platform, and our partnership with Oculus Venues dramatically expands the reach of our broadcast and brings social viewing to arguably the best immersive programming available today.”

The NBA’s live VR schedule tips off with the Golden State Warriors vs the Denver Nuggets on October 21st.

NBA senior vice president, new media distribution, Jeff Marsilio said: “NextVR continues to deliver an extremely immersive and innovative NBA VR broadcast.”

“And now, with the social capabilities of Oculus Venues, NBA fans can experience a virtual court-side seat next to their friends and family for the first time ever.”