NextVR has unveiled its first live virtual reality production truck for broadcast coverage of marquee events at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show in Las Vegas.
NextVR will roll out the truck to cover live events - including sports and concerts - beginning in July.
Custom-built from the ground up, the NextVR virtual reality production truck will allow for rapid deployment at an arena or stadium for the increasing demand for live virtual reality content.
The truck is designed to be 'plug and play' by pulling up to any venue to immediately deliver a multi-camera, live stereoscopic VR experience complete with fully mixed 3D VR audio.
NextVR imaging and production technologies senior vice president Ryan Sheridan said: "Downtime is unacceptable in a live broadcast.
"This truck allows our production to be fully redundant, providing a distinct competitive advantage for us as we continue to produce world-class events with global appeal."
The NextVR virtual reality production truck is divided into three parts:
An audio mixing facility to produce VR 3D audio to improve the overall consumer experience;
Comfortable space for broadcast partners and event hosts to monitor the live VR broadcast; and
Computational resources.
Sheridan said: "Live stereoscopic VR requires a lot of compute horsepower."
"With the truck, we will not be encumbered by the venue or audio limitations in the venue from which we are broadcasting. We simply roll up, deploy our equipment, plug into the infrastructure and produce the content."
Additionally, the truck was designed to fit into a large cargo airplane to quickly reach international markets for significant sporting events.
FOX sports field and technical operations SVP Michael Davies said: "Having a VR broadcast truck to cover major events is another example of how NextVR continues to read the market in this emerging technology."
"NextVR continues to distinguish itself as the standard setter in bringing live, broadcast-quality VR to sports fans excited about the content."
Sketchtank designer Kimberly Marte said: "Virtual reality is a whole new medium and that new medium deserves a whole new truck. Everything about this truck is new.
"It was designed with a strong presence and identity to match a brand of the same caliber.