BT will broadcast the UEFA Champions League in 360 degree virtual reality.
BT has revealed plans to broadcast the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League finals for free on YouTube, the BT website, BT Sport channels and the BT app for 2017.
The UEFA Champions League final will be broadcast for the first time in 4K UHD with Dolby Atmos on BT Sport and 4K UHD on YouTube, with multiple 360 degree streams on Youtube and the new BT Sport VR App, which allows viewers to choose their own camera viewpoint as well as commentary and graphics.
“BT Sport wants to offer the best possible experience to our viewers and so for this year’s UEFA Champions League final not only are we broadcasting in 4K UHD with Dolby Atmos sound, our live YouTube stream will also be available in 4K UHD," said John Petter, CEO at BT Consumer.
“We believe that VR can offer our viewers an immersive second screen view which will enhance our coverage. We’re excited to be broadcasting what we believe to be the biggest multi-camera live 360° sporting event ever for the first time to our customers.”
The finals will kick-off in Stockholm on 24 May with Manchester United and Dutch team Ajax in the UEFA Europa League final, with both teams also competing for a guaranteed spot in the UEFA Champions League next season.
Real Madrid and Juventus will then go head-to-head on 3 June from Cardiff's National Stadium of Wales, in the UEFA Champions League final, which will have commentary from Darren Fletcher and be presented by Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Steve McManaman and Owen Hargreaves.
Stephen Nuttall, YouTube’s Senior Director in EMEA, said, “Our users love football, so we're seriously excited to bring BT Sport’s ground-breaking coverage of these two massive games LIVE on YouTube, for a second year running. Fans today expect quality content on every screen and this partnership delivers just that."
He continued, "People can enjoy it wherever they are, on any screen and experience new ways of watching the beautiful game. Super high resolution, 360° VR - we can't wait."
BT Sport will be the exclusive UK destination for all live UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League football until 2020/21.
