BT Sport To Show 360-Degree VR Live Stream Of Champions League Final On YouTube
BT Sport will broadcast this year’s Champions League Final in 360-degree virtual reality after "announcing it will once again show the game for free on YouTube," according to Tony Connelly of THE DRUM. The broadcaster confirmed it will livestream the Champions League final and Europa League final for free on YouTube as it "looks to reach a larger audience than its paying subscriber base." For the first time, both fixtures will be available in 4K UHD on YouTube and BT Sport's linear channels and digital platforms. The VR streams will "allow viewers to choose" between a 360-degree produced program with commentary and graphics or select their own camera viewpoint. The Champions League final and ManU’s Europa League final against Ajax on May 24 will "also be available for free on BT Sport’s website and app," however ManU’s fixture will not have a 360-degree broadcast. It "follows on from last year’s decision to show the two fixtures for free on YouTube." BT said that its overall viewing figures were "boosted" by an additional 1.8 million and it benefited from YouTube's "willingness to hand over data on every viewer that streams the game" (THE DRUM, 5/16).