Samsung and the World Surf League Make History by Producing the First Worldwide Surfing Virtual Reality Transmission

PENICHE, Portugal, Nov. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, 24 October, surf enthusiasts from all over the world had the opportunity to go to Portugal's Supertubos Beach, to experience the Moche Rip Curl Pro, without leaving the comfort of home. The first worldwide virtual reality live multi-camera broadcast of a surfing event was made possible through a partnership between Samsung and WSL.  The content was produced in conjunction with IM360, which is powered by Immersive Media® technology.

To be right in the middle of the action you only needed a Samsung Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 edge and a Samsung Gear VR. As a result, fans who lived thousands of miles from the event were able to experience all of the excitement of a Championship Tour event, watching the world's best surfers compete in rapidly changing conditions that eliminated some of today's top surfers.   

"We believe this is the future of entertainment. This is the second time in just two months that Samsung Portugal promoted a multi-camera virtual reality live broadcast. First, we broadcasted the strongest football game in Portugal, the game between F.C.Porto and S.L.Benfica and now we brought surf fans – regardless of where they live -- onto the beach at Supertubos," said Frederico Paiva, Business Director of Samsung Portugal. "With this breakthrough technology and our most recent activation with the WSL, we are able to expose more people to the wonders of the sport of surfing."

"The World Surf League is so excited to have Samsung as its global Championship Tour partner.  Together, we've been able to develop innovative ways to introduce new fans to professional surfing and bring our current fans closer to our athletes and the competition," said Chris Culbertson, VP of Marketing, of the World Surf League.  "During the Moche Rip Curl Portugal Pro, live VR cameras were strategically placed to provide fans with a behind-the-scenes, 360-degree-view of the athletes' journey from the locker room to the beach.  We're honored to partner with Samsung to produce the first ever live VR surfing experience."

"IM360 is proud to partner with such forward-thinking organizations such as the WSL and Samsung to advance the immersive experiences, being the vehicle bridging the worlds of sports, entertainment, and virtual reality," said Myles McGovern, President and CEO of IM360.

The 2015 Samsung Galaxy WSL World Championship Tour wrapped up the European leg of the schedule on Friday at the Moche Rip Curl Pro, where Samsung hosted on-site activations at the Samsung Galaxy Studio. Within the Studio, fans were able to "ride the waves," thanks to the combination of the Gear VR a moving surfboard. Attendees also had a chance to try out Samsung's latest mobile products, such as the Galaxy S6 edge + and Gear S2. Also, with augmented reality activation, everyone had the chance take a picture with World Champion Gabriel Medina in addition to the trophy that was awarded to the 2015 Moche Rip Curl Pro winner, Brazil's Filipe Toledo.

Samsung is committed to honor the athleticism, adventure and unique culture of this passionate sport by providing exclusive experiences to all surfing community and enthusiasts. The virtual reality live broadcast enabled fans to extend their passion for the sport and feel closely all emotions of the competition.

For more information on Samsung's partnership with the WSL, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com      

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies, redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, printers, medical equipment, network systems, and semiconductor and LED solutions. We are also leading in the Internet of Things space through, among others, our Smart Home and Digital Health initiatives. We employ 307,000 people across 84 countries with annual sales of US $196 billion. To discover more, please visit our official website at www.samsung.com and our official blog at global.samsungtomorrow.com.

About the World Surf League

The mission of the World Surf League is simple:  to inspire positive change for surfing, our fans, and the environment.  Formerly the Association of Surfing Professionals, the WSL has been championing the world's best surfing since 1976, running global competitions across the Samsung Galaxy Men's and Women's Championship Tour, the Big Wave Tour, Qualifying Series, Junior and Longboard Championships, and producing events such as the WSL Big Wave Awards.  The WSL possesses a deep appreciation for the sport's rich heritage, while promoting progression, innovation, and performance at the highest levels.  We put the world's best surfers on the world's best waves.

Showcasing the best in surfing on its digital platform at WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL has energized an already passionate global fan base with millions of fans from around the world tuning in to see athletes including Kelly Slater, Filipe Toledo, Gabriel Medina, Makua Rothman, Grant "Twiggy" Baker, Greg Long, Stephanie Gilmore, John John Florence, Carissa Moore and others do battle on the most dynamic and unpredictable field of play in all of sports. 

SOURCE WSL