The NFL on Thursday announced plans to produce a nine-part series that “gives viewers a 360-degree perspective of life in and around the [league] — from players, to coaches, to executives, to cheerleaders, to the fans themselves — detailing how each prepares for game day in a completely new and immersive way.”
The first episode will go live on YouTube Thanksgiving Day, letting viewers “spend a week with the Philadelphia Eagles defensive line as they prepare for the upcoming matchup and gain exclusive access to the Eagles bench and sideline on game day,” the NFL said.
Later this year, episodes will also be available via the NFL VR app designed for Google’s Daydream headset, which launches next week. Future episodes will let viewers “tag along with the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders, experience the distinctive football culture in Green Bay, and take a unique look inside the San Diego Chargers organization, to name a few,” the NFL said.
This is the NFL’s first foray into producing content for virtual reality after experimenting with the technology last season, and the NFL says it will be the first-ever episodic sports program in virtual reality. The series is currently in production and being shot with Google’s 360-degree camera and capture system Jump.
“We are always looking for new ways to engage with our fans,” the NFL’s Senior Vice President of Digital Media said in a statement. “Virtual reality is an emerging platform that enables content experiences with a truly unique vantage point that brings fans closer to the game. It’s an exciting new medium to explore as we look to evolve and grow our offerings, and this partnership with Google is an important step in that direction.”
