Apple TV will stream baseball in 8K 3D with a 180-degree field of view on Apple Vision Pro for the first time, starting August 28.
After experimenting with sports in 3D 8K in 2024, Apple started offering live-sports in 8K 3D – so-called Apple Immersive – specifically NBA basketball late last year.
Next up is Major League Baseball (MLB):
- "For the first time, baseball fans can take in all the action of 'Friday Night Baseball' live in Apple Immersive on Apple Vision Pro, leveraging 3D video recorded in 8K with a 180-degree field of view," announced Apple, adding:
- "On August 28, viewers with Vision Pro will experience the iconic Red Sox vs. Yankees rivalry from unique camera angles that place viewers right in the game, immersed in the drama of each at-bat, the celebrations in the dugout after a big hit, close plays at the outfield wall, and more."
Four of seven MLB games in September will be streamed in Apple Immersive format on both the M2 and M5 Apple Vision Pro headsets.
What is 8K 3D?
Apple says games are captured from multiple angles using Blackmagic's URSA Cine Immersive cameras in 180-degree 3D at 8K resolution per eye. The camera can capture up to 90fps at 8K.
On Apple Vision Pro, the footage is downscaled using static foveation to two separate 4K 3D streams, one for each eye. There is some debate over what two 4K 3D streams amount to when combined in Apple Vision Pro. Some refer to dual 4K as 8K because it contains twice as many pixels as regular 4K, but true 8K requires four times as many pixels. On the other hand, Apple Vision Pro is using foveated rendering. The resulting image is likely somewhere in between, although the original footage is captured in 8K 3D. Apple Vision Pro would need an 8K micro-OLED display per eye to actually display the full 8K resolution, rather than its current 4K-class displays.
Still, it is remarkably close to being there. It is the closest you can get to having one of the best seats in the stadium without leaving your home. It is a spectacular experience that is well worth trying if you get the chance to borrow one of the pricey Apple Vision Pro headsets.
Also read: First look at Apple Vision Pro: A video revolution
Apple Vision Pro users with an Apple TV subscription in Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the UK and the US can stream the games live directly through the Apple TV app starting August 28.
Apple also holds rights to Formula 1 in the US and Major League Soccer (MLS) globally but so far it has not announced any plans for 8K 3D coverage.
