As part of the partnership, Meta Quest will sponsor four Overtime Elite dunk shows and a pair will be broadcast live in VR.
Ever wanted to see a dunk contest live in VR?
Now you can — thanks to a partnership between Meta (formerly known as Facebook) and Overtime. The companies announced on Tuesday that Meta’s Quest 2 VR headset will be the official VR headset of Overtime Elite, and with that partnership will come some jaw-dropping displays.
Central to the deal will be Meta Quest’s sponsoring of four of OTE’s dunk shows, two of which will be broadcast live in VR beginning Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. The 180-degree experience can be viewed on Meta Quest, Quest 2, and Rift VR headsets via Horizon Venues. If you miss out on the live events, the content will still be available on Oculus TV and Horizon Venues.
As part of the dunk shows, Overtime talent will be on hand and talking to fans as part of the immersive experience, with special appearances from the players themselves.
“As we work together with the sports industry to chart a path to the metaverse, it’s no surprise that Overtime Elite is helping lead the way,” said Rob Shaw, Meta’s director of sports league and media partnerships. “The league – and Overtime more broadly – are pioneers in using digital technology to drive fan engagement, so we’re excited to partner with them to bring their cutting-edge approach to VR.”
In addition to the dunk shows, OTE will use VR as a way to bring the inaugural season of its basketball league directly to the fans. It’ll provide 360-degree views of daily player workouts, team breakfasts, academic life, and on-court action, providing access not seen elsewhere.
“Overtime Elite was created to give fans unprecedented access to the next generation of athletes, and our partnership with Meta Quest expands our ability to bring fans closer than ever before,” said Marc Kohn, Overtime and OTE’s chief content officer. “We couldn’t be more excited to see how Meta’s rapidly advancing technology continues to evolve, with OTE being the perfect laboratory for VR innovation.”