Like being there: Apple to stream live sports in VR

Soon, viewers at home can feel like they are courtside as Apple and its partners will start to live-stream NBA games in immersive VR format.

The matches are being captured with Blackmagic's URSA Cine Immersive camera in 180-degree VR, taking over your entire field of vision when you put on the Apple Vision Pro headset.

This camera can record up to 8K 3D at 90fps, though it has not been confirmed what resolution the live broadcasts will stream in. It has only been confirmed that the bitrate will reach up to 150 Mbps, indicating extremely high quality. For comparison, most 4K movies stream at under 25 Mbps.

- "Viewers will feel the intensity of each game as if they were courtside, with perspectives impossible to capture in traditional broadcasts," said Apple.


Like being present
FlatpanelsHD has watched sports clips in Apple Vision Pro, which features 4K micro-OLED displays. It is an incredible experience – like being there. In fact, even better because everyone gets the best seat – as long as you cough up 3500 dollars for the headset.

It is hard to describe but the experience feels authentic. As FlatpanelsHD wrote earlier, you can "see the players' expressions, every touch of the ball, and all the nuances – and dirty tricks – in the fight for possession.."

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Apple has been experimenting with sports in VR for some time, but starting in early 2026, some Los Angeles Lakers NBA games will be broadcast live for the first time. Cameras will be placed courtside and under each net.

Replays and highlights will also be made available afterward in Apple Immersive Video format.

The content will be available through Charter's SportsNet app as well as the NBA own app in the USA, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.


More to come?
The partners promised more details before the end of November, coinciding with rumors of an upgraded Apple Vision Pro headset. The current headset is currently available only in a handful of countries.

Apple holds global rights to stream matches from the American MLS soccer league, which is not currently filmed in VR.

Rumor has it Apple is also bidding for Formula 1 rights — starting with coverage in the US.

 Also read: First look at Apple Vision Pro: A video revolution