NBA Digital is partnering with a live virtual reality technology firm to show one NBA League Pass game a week in virtual reality to users with compatible Samsung devices. 

The partnership with NextVR will allow for one game to be watched through virtual reality as part of NBA League Pass?the league?s premium service that allows access to every game of the season? for free through its trial period. The development marks the first regular schedule of live games delivered in VR by a professional sports team, but other leagues are sure to be following close behind.

"Lots of what the NBA has done in digital media has been a slam dunk," said Jeff Hasen, author of The Art of Mobile Persuasion. "Like the teams that win championships, it innovates and constantly seeks to get better. 

"Interaction with fans is critical in days when there are so many possible distractions. By enabling personalized viewing - things like follow just your favorite player around the court with an isolated camera look-in -- and putting the fans closer to their beloved teams stokes the fire."

The partnership is initially being made available to select Samsung customers: fans who own Samsung?s virtual reality headset, the Gear VR, in combination with a compatible Samsung smartphone will be able to access the VR content. These users can access it by choosing the NBA channel in NextVR?s application on their mobile devices. 

A timetable has yet to be set on NBA League Pass?s compatibility additional VR options outside of the Samsung Gear VR.

The aforementioned free game will occur on October 27 between the Sacramento Kings and the San Antonio Spurs, and the full schedule of virtual reality programming will be announced later this month.

The broadcasts will contain the full traditional production suite, with commentary, multiple camera angles and mobile-optimized graphics. Game breaks such as halftime and television timeouts will feature the same in-venue entertainment that traditional viewers can enjoy, plus behind-the-scenes footage from the arena and platform-specific commentary. 

Another new feature that will be exclusive to the mobile audience is called Mobile View, which provides a zoomed-in perspective on the action, designed for mobile and tablet viewers who watch on smaller screens.

It is generally agreed upon that as soon as the advent of virtual reality technology was on the horizon, sports was considered one of the most viable arenas for leveraging the technology. Perhaps the only surprise is that it has taken this long for the technology to be implemented at such a scale. 

One network that hopped on early to VR technology was Fox Sports when it took viewers close to the action by broadcasting a college football matchup between Ohio State and Oklahoma live through virtual reality for all Android and iOS users (see story). 

And speaking of the Sacramento Kings, the team proved that they are also at the forefront of mobile innovation by using advanced indoor location services to help fans find seats and interact with the Golden 1 Center arena via an app (see story). 

"In-stadium experiences must differentiate, giving fans reasons to leave their HD televisions and bar-watching habits behind for a time that can't be replicated outside the building," Mr Hasen said. "Beacons are a part of the solution, enabling targeted and contextual messages and content."