Ever since Apple released the groundbreaking $3,499 Vision Pro headset two years ago, I've been waiting to see what apps and experiences might help me make the most of it. One of them is live sports.
Using my headset, I recently watched parts of a basketball game, the LA Lakers versus the Milwaukee Bucks last Friday, part of Apple's first wave of live NBA immersive games that debuted via Spectrum on Jan. 9. After this year's CES show in Vegas, which was full of attempted visions of the future, Apple and Spectrum's NBA presentation was expected -- but not quite immersive enough.
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In a recent column in Stratechery, Ben Thompson argued that the Vision Pro immersive sports experience isn't flexible, but rather falls somewhere between TV broadcasts and "being there." He's not wrong. In fact, what strikes me is how this all reminds me of experiences I had many years ago.
Once, a decade ago, I watched a boxing match in a Gear VR headset, which made me feel like I was on the edge of the ring. I also watched a presidential debate. In these moments, on Oculus headsets, I felt trapped between the promise of immersion and the desire for interaction.
Those feelings of something falling short returned here at courtside, applied to live sports. While the camera and video quality are impressive with the Vision Pro, it's not that different from Apple's other immersive video offerings currently available.
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Spectrum's immersive recording and streaming of select Lakers games involves camera placements at the front-row courtside center seat and at each of the baskets, alternating between them. Most of the viewing is courtside, and like all Apple Immersive videos, it's a 180-degree experience. The video domes out and around, almost like being in The Sphere in Vegas (which I just tried), but in 3D, and at home.
The live viewing experience is available with a Spectrum SportsNet subscription if you live in Southern California, Nevada or Hawaii, or with next-day viewing elsewhere using an NBA app login.
You also need a $3,499 Vision Pro.
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