Comcast-backed (NASDAQ: CMCSA) virtual-reality event producer NextVR has signed a deal with music promotor Live Nation to stream hundreds of concerts in VR, Variety reports.
Users of Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR headsets will be able to stream the concerts, starting this summer, via the NextVR app.
NextVR is backed to the tune of $30.5 million of private investment from Comcast Ventures, Time Warner Inc., Madison Square Garden Group and mogul Peter Guber, among other backers.
The company has been live-streaming and archiving events, such as the PGA's Masters Tournament, and select NBA games. NextVR co-founder David Cole told FierceCable at NAB that the company is building an audience on its own streaming platform. It hopes to achieve critical mass next year and begin aggressive monetization of that audience.
NextVR's deal with Live Nation will eventually include pay-per-view events, the company said. "NextVR is planning to bring quite a few acts to the platform at no cost and initially – all programming will be free," a company rep told Variety. "Pay-for-view programs will likely follow – at a time determined by NextVR and LiveNation."
For more:
- read this Variety story
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