San Francisco 49ers, Zeality Enable Fan Reaction To 360-Degree Videos
Philadelphia, PA – April 27, 2017 – Philadelphia Museum of Art: Solomon Thomas selected by the San Francisco 49ers during the 2017 NFL Draft
(Photo by Allen Kee / ESPN Images)
The San Francisco 49ers have incorporated Zeality’s Immersive Media Engine into their mobile app, including a Re/Lives feature that enables fans to record and share their viewing perspective and reactions to watching 360-degree videos and VR content.
The 49ers on their app have a VR/360 section for fans to view videos, and that currently includes examples of fan reactions overlaid onto the videos.
“Zeality is revolutionizing how we get closer to our fans,” Robert Alberino Jr., the 49ers’ Vice President and Executive Producer, said in a statement. “Their technology is not only changing how we engage with fans, but changing the longevity of our content.”
So far, the 49ers app includes seven different videos that are organized into two different channels. This includes a “Draft Day 2017” channel that features a draft day fan experience video, a 49ers drum line experience, and a draft day video with new head coach Kyle Shanahan and new general manager John Lynch. Re/Lives fan reaction videos have been posted in the VR/360 section reacting to those.
The other channel is title “Faithful” and features a media day compilation and a step-by-step look at middle linebacker Navorro Bowman’s media day. In addition, an interview with Hall of Fame former team owner Eddie DeBartolo is featured as well as a video showing a USAF Levi’s Stadium flyover. As the 2017 season gets underway, the 49ers are primed to introduce new team videos such as an experience where fans can virtually run out of the tunnel with the team before a game.
“We couldn’t be more proud and excited to see our IME live in the latest version of the 49ers app,” Dipak M. Patel, Zeality’s co-founder and CEO, said in a statement.
Patel provided a look into the next stage of the IME integration, adding, “We are looking forward to the next update coming soon which will expand the capabilities to support 360 photos as well.”
