Channel 7 offers Olympic Games viewers VR and 360-degree video

Channel Seven viewers are being given the opportunity to watch the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio with a 360-degree view after the broadcaster announced it will offer virtual reality footage digitally.

The 7Roi VR 2016 app will include up to 100 hours of VR and 360-degree programming stretching from footage of the opening and closing ceremonies through to men’s basketball, gymnastics, track and field, beach volleyball, diving, boxing and fencing. On-demand highlights from each day will also be available from Channel Seven’s Facebook presence.

The VR content will be available to Samsung Galaxy smartphones that are compatible with the vendor’s Gear VR headsets, while 360-degree video is available solely using the app.

Seven West Media chief revenue officer and event director, Olympic games, Kurt Burnette, said this year’s Olympic Games is expected to draw the largest aggregated audience ever seen across platforms and screens.

“The Games content delivered and curated by Seven will be seen, heard, shared and discussed in many new ways with Seven as the driver,”he claimed. “This move further underlines Seven’s commitment to innovation and our mission to increase out content’s presence in new forms of delivery.”

The broadcaster’s chief digital officer, Clive Dickens, added that the partnership between it and Samsung would give consumers the ability to experience live VR sports events for the first time.

VR content has been dominating headlines in recent weeks. Other brands embarking on their own VR experiences include Movie World’s 360-degree VR roller coaster ride, which is being merged with the physical experience; Australia Zoo’s animal interactions; the NRL’s virtual State of Origin; the Sydney Opera House’s VR iconic sails tour; and Tourism Australia’s immersive VR aquatic and coastal experiences.

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