Apple is bringing augmented reality to MLB At Bat, is the NHL app next?
An announcement of several new hardware and software products by Apple included a demo of the new iPhone’s ability to bring augmented reality to baseball fans using the MLB At Bat app. Given the connections between Apple, Bamtech and the NHL, hockey fans are likely to get a similar experience soon.
The Apple iPhone 8 will be capable of producing data overlays for fans using the MLB At Bat app while attending MLB games. It’s more likely than not that the same augmented reality amenity will be available to fans attending NHL games as well.
For years, MLB Advanced Media and its spinoff company, Bamtech, have delivered the best in technological innovations to not only MLB, but Riot Games and the NHL as well. Statcast and the best of high-definition on-demand streaming video products have been the fruition of those efforts.
No stranger to technological innovation, on Sept. 12, a special event from the Steve Jobs Theater in California revealed the fruits of Apple’s years of labor on integrating augmented reality technology into their flagship product, the iPhone.
It’s the latest in a string of connections between Apple and the NHL that will most likely eventually lead to similar augmented reality for hockey game attendees.
Bamtech has been aggressive in expanding its menu of sports content since Disney became the company’s majority shareholder. In addition to acquiring ACC Network rights holder Silver Chalice, Bamtech assisted Disney with rolling out a new ESPN app on the Apple TV.
The strongest indicator of a robust connection between Apple and Bamtech, however, is an acquisition investigation. According to speculative analysis from RBC Capital Markets, Apple is considering making a play to acquire Disney.
Even if that never happens, the relationship between Apple and Bamtech is sure to be mutually beneficial in perpetuity. As Bamtech handles many facets of media for the NHL, the league stands to benefit as well. NHL iPhone apps could be fitted with the same AR tech that MLB At Bat will be easily, as the relationships and software already exist to make that happen.
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If this possibility becomes reality, fans at a hockey game will be able to raise their iPhones up toward the ice, open the NHL app and see the plus-minus of all the skaters on the ice. Given what is known about the relationships between the parties responsible for making that happen, it’s more a question of when than if.