Hockey Night in Canada is an iconic Canadian sports cast that first started in radio back in 1931. It moved to TV in 1952 and in 2014 starting streaming games online.
This Saturday night Hockey Night in Canada is going to do its first virtual reality (VR) broadcast when the Calgary Flames take on the Vancouver Canucks.
The VR presentation was a long time comes and took several partnerships to make it happen.
Beer producer Molson Canadian along with NHL rights holder Rogers Sportsnet are working together for this 360 VR game between the Flames and Canuck.
Earlier this month, the NFL along with Intel produced a VR Super Bowl, but there will be a big difference between the Fox Sports VR and the one on Hockey Night in Canada. Hockey Night’s will be live as opposed to nearly live with the Fox Sports broadcast.
This will mark the first time 360 VR will be used in an NHL broadcast.
It will use the same concept as the VR Super Bowl, however, providing hockey fans a virtual front-row seat inside the arena.
And, this 360 VR game will not be a one off, either. The plan is to have six consecutive Saturday night hockey broadcasts.
You can watch the games live in 360 VR on Sportsnet.ca Web site and on the Sportsnet app by using special virtual reality viewfinders.
These viewfinders are currently available only in select beer cases of Molson Canadian across Canada. The Molson VR headset is a kit with a unique pin code to access all the VR content along with instructions to download the VR compatible mobile Sportsnet app available on the App Store and Google Play.
Three different 360 VR cameras will be used during the games, allowing viewers to experience the live action on the ice and take in the arena atmosphere.
Similar to Fox Sports, Sportsnet will be providing behind-the-scenes footage and on-demand highlight videos in 360 VR for the pre-game show.
Here is the line-up of Hockey Night in Canada games in 360 VR:
- Calgary Flames @ Vancouver Canucks – Saturday, Feb. 18
- Montreal Canadiens @ Toronto Maple Leafs – Saturday, Feb. 25
- Detroit Red Wings @ Edmonton Oilers – Saturday, March 4
- Calgary Flames @ Winnipeg Jets – Saturday, March 11
- Chicago Blackhawks @ Toronto Maple Leafs – Saturday, March 18
- Ottawa Senators @ Montreal Canadiens – Saturday, March 25