Indian telecommunications company Tata Communications and the Formula One motor-racing series have concluded a test of truly live 360-degree video which they claim will serve to boost the growth of virtual reality in sports and entertainment.
The test was conducted at the weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix. Two 360-degree cameras were located at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, trackside and in the paddock, to show how viewers at home could experience these exclusive areas through a VR-like environment via the official F1 app.
To date, any 360-degree video experiments in sports have been hampered by a 30-second delay between the 360-degree video and live television feeds, preventing a widespread adoption of the technology. Tata and Formula One said the proof-of-concept is the first time live 360-degree video feeds and television broadcast have been shown in complete sync.
“This proof of concept shows the potential of live 360-degree video to augment the F1 TV viewing experience and bring VR mainstream in live sports and entertainment,” Mehul Kapadia, managing director of Tata Communications’ F1 Business, said.
“Eliminating the delay in 360-degree video means that, for the first time, it’s possible to offer fans truly live 360-degree video experiences on a global scale. This will enable sports and entertainment organisations to engage with their audiences in new ways and generate new revenue streams – helping the 360-degree video and VR market achieve its $60bn (€50.3bn) potential.”
The live proof-of-concept follows close collaboration between Tata Communications and Formula One during the last five seasons to lay the foundations for the sport’s digital transformation, testing in action technologies such as UHD video and live broadcasting over the internet.
Tata Communications serves as the official connectivity provider to Formula One.