CES 2016 was the home of a lot of innovation, much related to VR. Comcast and Time Warner Inc and joining in, will AT&T and Direct TV follow behind?
Comcast Joins Hands with Time Warner
These two companies are investing $30.5 million in NextVR, a Californian startup that does broadcasts in virtual reality. This has raised a lot of questions regarding the future of VR, and whether or not 3D TV will get an upgrade.
3D TV was a trend for all of two minutes – consumers didn’t seem to be too excited about the technology at all. VR might catch on, with Facebook and other giant companies making multi-billion dollar investments on it. Virtual reality has potential in many industries, including education, health care, and entertainment.
VR is Valued At $80 Billion by 2025
Virtual reality has really deep pockets. There’s no way of knowing just how astounding the technology is until it goes beyond headsets. Pay-TV, however, hopes to settle some of those doubts.
Comcast’s investment on NextVR is a step towards the future of cable TV. This could be the key to finding a reason for people to steer away from Netflix, Hulu and the like.
Even Direct TV is jumping on the VR bandwagon. The company is launching a smartphone app that lets users watch Big Knockout Boxing events in VR. Analysts are skeptical about the ventures. They predict that VR will get to porn and video games before it really hits TV.
VR Headsets Can Be Used for More than Gaming
Oculus VR is releasing the Oculus Rift on March 28. The headset features 1080 x 1200 resolution and 360-degree video. It also features a 90 Hz refresh rate. Another headset that’s about to hit the market is the HTC Vive, which will start taking orders on February 29. None of these will be cheap, though.
The HTC Vive is set to go for $1,500 while the Oculus Rift is predicted to go for $599. Both headsets are set to be used with gaming. Comcast is looking to take things to the next level.
Will Carriers like AT&T Join the Effort?
Carriers can possibly join the VR bandwagon. AT&T is the second biggest carrier in the US but the fight against Verizon has been relentless. VR could be the key to becoming the largest carrier in the country.
