Dodgers co-owner invests in sports virtual reality firm

Dodgers and Golden State Warriors co-owner Peter Guber thinks he’s found a way for millions of people to share the best seat in a stadium.

On Wednesday, he announced a multimillion-dollar investment, hoping to steer a new live stream virtual reality technology from testing to profit machine.

Guber, chief executive of Mandalay Entertainment, is backing NextVR, a Laguna Beach start-up. NextVR is bringing former Turner Broadcasting Chief Technology Officer Scott Teissler and former NHL executive Doug Perlman on board as advisors.

The new trio will help NextVR gain footing in the complicated sports broadcasting rights system.

“How does it fit into the economic engines of the league and media companies?” Guber said. “These rules and determinations will be made by the leagues, the team, broadcast groups, but those are just speed bumps. There’s no stopping the fact that this is engaging technology.”

The NBA gave permission to Guber and NextVR to broadcast a Warriors game in March, and Guber said he was “thoroughly enthralled” with the experience. Unlike viewers of traditional TV broadcasts, virtual-reality viewers could tilt their heads to see different scenes at the arena whenever desired. It makes them a participant in the broadcast, Guber said.

“You can be in Bangor, Maine, and be in Oracle’s best seat,” he said, referring to the Warriors’ arena. “It gave such a great deal of proximity.”

Guber, whose holdings also include the Golden Globe Awards and the Billboard Music Awards, said he’s prepared to make more virtual-related investments. He pointed to opportunities in camera systems, production facilities and display technologies.