Starting January 9th, Apple Vision Pro owners will be able to watch select Los Angeles Lakers games live in Apple Immersive – a format that puts viewers right in the middle of the game. The partnership between Apple and Spectrum brings live sports to the headset in this immersive format for the first time. This quit Apple said in a press release.
Quickread: At a glance
- Starting January 9th, Apple will broadcast six Lakers games live in Apple Immersive with seven camera angles and up to 150 megabits per second.
- Vision Pro users in Southern California, Hawaii and parts of Nevada with a Spectrum subscription or NBA account have live access.
- Game replays and highlights are available 24 hours after the game ends nationwide in the US and in select international markets.
Live basketball in 3D – this is how Spectrum Front Row works
It will be broadcast via the new Spectrum SportsNet app and the NBA app for Apple Vision Pro. With a data rate of up to 150 megabits per second and seven different camera perspectives, it creates an experience that traditional broadcasts cannot offer. Angles range from the judges’ table to positions under each basket to a bird’s eye view of the arena. It also includes the players’ tunnel, the broadcast booth and a movable courtside perspective for interviews.
The games will be commented on by, among others, Emmy award-winning Mark Rogondino and former Lakers player and three-time NBA champion Danny Green. The game graphics such as lineups, shot clocks and scores float three-dimensionally in front of the spectators’ eyes, while ambisonic microphones capture the spatial audio of the arena – from the squeak of shoes on the floor to the cheers of the fans.
Apple Immersive explained!
Apple Immersive is a special video format for the Apple Vision Pro that combines 180-degree footage in 8K resolution with spatial audio. The recordings are created with special 3D cameras and put viewers right in the middle of the action. Unlike traditional videos, graphics float three-dimensionally in space and the sound comes from all directions as if you were actually there.
Who can watch the Lakers games?
Live access to the games is available to Vision Pro users in the Lakers’ regional broadcast area, which includes Southern California, Hawaii and parts of Southern Nevada including Las Vegas. Requires a subscription to Spectrum Internet or a video package that includes Spectrum SportsNet. Alternatively, a free NBA account via the NBA app is sufficient.
Outside this region, full game replays and highlights will be available 24 hours after the game ends – nationwide in the US and in select international markets such as Australia, Germany, France, UK, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. Here too, a free NBA account is sufficient.
These games will be broadcast in Apple Immersive
A total of six Lakers games will be shown in Apple Immersive between January and March. The home game against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Crypto.com Arena will kick off on January 9th. Other dates include February 5th against the Philadelphia 76ers, February 20th against the Los Angeles Clippers, the away game on March 5th at the Denver Nuggets, March 10th against the Minnesota Timberwolves and March 30th against the Washington Wizards.
The first replay will be available on January 11th – two days after the opening game. To use it, visionOS 26 or higher is required, which runs on both the Apple Vision Pro with M5 chip and the previous model with M2 chip.
New standards for sports broadcasts
With Spectrum Front Row in Apple Immersive, Apple is setting new standards in sports entertainment. The recordings are made with the special Blackmagic Design URSA Cine Immersive Live camera, which was developed for this type of production. During timeouts, halftimes and other breaks in play, the broadcast remains live in the arena and shows introductions, team meetings and entertainment programs.
The Spectrum SportsNet app for Apple Vision Pro is now available for free in the US. The NBA app is available for download in twelve countries. Users can also watch traditional game broadcasts live or on demand via the Spectrum TV app for iPad, which also runs on the Vision Pro. Spectrum Front Row is not available in Apple Immersive in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Canada and Taiwan.
