- Select Los Angeles Lakers games will be streamed on Apple Immersive on Vision Pro
- The games will be filmed on Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive cameras.
- Broadcasts will begin in early 2026 via the NBA and Spectrum SportsNet apps.
Applehas already released a lot of immersive content filmed specifically for Vision Pro. You can get closer to Bono, rock with Metallicaor to look behind the scenes at Yankee Stadium – even if it hurts a little to write today after yesterday's game – or to stand next to a herd of rhinoceroses.
We saw a wide range of content, but I was waiting for something live – in particular, sports broadcasts. Seeing this Apple TV+ Friday Night Baseball shoots games on iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max gave me some hope and now we have a confirmed release. In what could be the start of something new, select Los Angeles Lakers games this coming season will be streamed live on Apple Immersive for Vision Pro.
These aren't all games, but for the ones that are streaming (exclusive to Spatial Computer for $3,500), you'll get access to viewing experiences that will put you right in the middle of the action. Special cameras supporting this format will be installed courtside and under each basket to provide a perspective that enhances immersion. Lakers games will be filmed using a custom version of Blackmagic Design's URSA Cine Immersive Live camera.
To me, it looks like Apple is delivering on its promise – or at least starting to – as even my first demo with the Vision Pro presented me with stunning close-up shots of a range of sports.
Very similar to Apple TV+ Using the iPhone 17 Pro in unique locations around Fenway Park, the idea behind filming an NBA game in this format is to provide a broadcast that replicates the feeling of being at the game. Or, in some cases, from the side of the net or from a player on the bench – a view usually reserved for athletes.
However, that won't be the case for every Lakers game. Apple and the NBA will announce which ones will be available to watch on Apple Immersive later this fall (before the end of November 2025), with the first expected by early 2026.
Assuming you have Vision Pro, which is available in the US, UK and Australia, among other countries, you'll need the NBA app or the soon-to-be-released Charter Communications Spectrum SportsNet app. Both will be required visionOS 26 or later, which Apple released on September 15, 2025.
You'll likely need an active subscription to either service, but we're still waiting for details. For now, using any app, you'll be able to stream the Lakers on Apple Immersive live or on-demand for three days after the end of each game in the US. Some live streams will be limited to the Lakers' regional broadcast area, so if you're not in a specific state or city, you may experience a delay.
If you're outside the US, fear not—you can still immerse yourself in replay action on the NBA app in the UK, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the UAE.
While we don't yet know the release date for the first game, if you have a Vision Pro, chances are you'll have plenty to look forward to. The NBA app already offers unique capabilities for viewing traditional broadcasts with statistics and game highlights, as well as digital images of the court.
But if this immersion truly makes you feel like you're there, with some incredible footage, it might be the closest thing to that long-promised experience. And if all goes well with the NBA and Lakers, it could encourage other teams, leagues and entertainment partners to try to replicate similar successes with Apple's Immersive formats.
And when more affordable Vision Pro appears, Apple will have more interesting and enjoyable content ready to serve new customers.
Follow TechRadar on Google News. And add us as your preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the “Subscribe” button!
And of course you can also Follow TechRadar on TikTok. for news, reviews, unboxing videos and get regular updates from us on whatsapp too much.
