In continuation of its aspiration of providing relevant and entertaining contents on its Gear VR platform, Korean tech giant, Samsung has announced the VR Live Pass on the Gear VR. The VR Live Pass is the product of a lineup of exciting, global entertainment partnerships with American mixed martial arts-focused company Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), as well as ESPN X Games and Live Nation.
With these new partnerships, Samsung will stream select live events in order for fans to enjoy immersive virtual reality broadcasts of their favourite action sports and music events through the Gear VR platform. The VR Live Pass is accessible via the Samsung VR app and offers users of the Gear VR loads of entertainment regardless of where they are located. Samsung’s recent global expansion to 45 countries makes it possible for more persons to enjoy the rich Gear VR platform. Samsung will also provide fans with an electrifying new way to experience live entertainment without the need to physically attend the events through these partnerships.
Younghee Lee, CMO and Executive Vice President, Samsung Electronics had this to say about the new product:-
“We are excited to offer Samsung Gear VR users the opportunity to experience their favorite live music and sporting events through our industry-leading VR ecosystem,…. “Partnering with these companies to expand our VR services helps us to open up a new gateway of opportunities for fans and demonstrate our commitment to delivering experiences that make the seemingly impossible, possible.”
UFC’s Chief Operating Officer Ike Lawrence Epstein, on his part, spoke of its company’s excitement about the new initiative which they believe would give fans the ultimate enhanced experience. His words;
“We’ve always felt that the potential of combining UFC events with virtual reality would give our fans the ultimate enhanced experience…..We’re excited to partner with Samsung on this game-changing initiative to further revolutionize how fight fans consume our content and live events around the world.”
Tim Reed, Vice President, ESPN X Games also spoke about the relevance of the Gear VR in showcasing dynamic action sports to viewers across the world.
“The X Games is the premier action sports event that continually provides a platform for athletic progression….From never been done tricks to awe-inspiring competition, Samsung’s Gear VR technology is perfect to showcase dynamic action sports to viewers across the world,” Tim Reed Said
The live broadcast has already commenced with the streaming in Virtual Reality of the UFC 212 fight between UFC featherweight champion José Aldo and interim UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 3, 2017. This is the first time in UFC history an event will be live streamed in Virtual Reality. Fans were availed with the opportunity of watching the high-quality 360-degree live stream of the fight in countries where the Gear VR is available except the US and New Zealand. Users in the U.S. will get the UFC FIGHT PASS early prelims.
The next available live broadcast is the X Games Minneapolis coming up from July 13 to 16, 2017. Gear VR users will be thrilled at the X Games event, watching some of the world’s best BMX riders and skaters, including Jimmy Wilkins, Chad Kerley and Jagger Eaton compete at the biggest action sports event of the year, right from the comfort of their homes.
Furthermore, the VR Live Pass grants Samsung VR users around the world, especially those who are music fans, live viewership of the Live Nation live musical concert featuring international artists which would hold in August this year. All the contents are available at virtually no cost to the Gear VR users and users will get to witness live action shots and extreme close-ups, taking spectatorship to an entirely new level.
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