Sportsnet Rolls Out First Of Six NHL Games The Network Will Broadcast In 360-Degree VR

Sportsnet recently teamed up with Molson Canadian to give "away 350,000 pairs of cardboard VR glasses inside cases of beer," and last Saturday's Canucks-Flames matchup was the first of six games with 360 VR-compatibility, according to Michael Traikos of POSTMEDIA NEWS. Traikos: "The view was breathtaking, if a bit nauseating. ... I was in the arena. There is no play-by-play commentary, no graphics displaying the score." Using three cameras, the technology "gives viewers a 360-degree look from a unique vantage point." But the VR tech is a "bit gimmicky." Traikos: "I cannot imagine watching a game like this with a group of people -- much less by myself." Rogers VP/Production for Sportsnet & NHL Rob Corte said, "You’re going to have some things that hit and some things that don’t, but we’re going to continue to push" (POSTMEDIA NEWS, 2/20).