As part of its recently-announced technology agreement as an official of the Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States, NTT has last Monday successfully conducted a Proof of Concept (PoC) of a real-time super-high definition surround video fan experience event – a first for live sporting event in the country.
For the PoC, NTT implemented its Ultra Reality Viewing (URV) technology that combines multiple 4K camera images into a super-wide image such as 12K in real-time and transmits them synchronously to remote locations.
With the super high-definition surround videos which cannot be captured by general cameras and audio technologies which enable original sounds to generate and transmit to remote location without loss and time difference and regenerate those certain sounds fields through the remote location, audiences can view sports or events content as if they were watching it live in the stadium, on the field or in the theatre.
NTT’s URV technology has been successfully implemented in Japan to enhance audience viewing and fan experiences with very positive results.
A key foundation of the partnership between MLB and NTT is a collaborative intent to create a new fan experience in the Smart World era.
The URV was successfully proven at Game 3 of the American League Division Series presented by Doosan between the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays from Tropicana Field. In the ballpark, NTT installed multiple 4K cameras that transmitted high definition images (12K wide) in real time to a super-wide screen (90.6 in x 469 in) with 6ch surround sound including original audio sauce to a viewing area set up at MLB Network’s studio in Secaucus, NJ. This URV technology created a uniquely transformative sensation that put the remote viewer into the ballpark and its atmosphere live.
NTT invited enterprise partners to this viewing event in order to increase the awareness for other potential uses of this URV technology experience technology.
NTT and MLB will continue to work toward expanding the use of URV Technology for new and exciting fan experiences in other events.
