Spectrum and Apple launched Spectrum Front Row in Apple Immersive, bringing live Los Angeles Lakers games to Apple Vision Pro starting January 9, 2026. The first broadcast Milwaukee Bucks vs. Lakers at Crypto.com Arena tips off at 7:30 p.m. PT and marks the first multi-game live sports series in Apple’s immersive format. Six games will stream through March 30, with full replays available nationwide within 24 hours.
What Spectrum Front Row Offers
Spectrum Front Row delivers Lakers games through seven simultaneous camera angles: scorer’s table, beneath each basket, high-and-wide arena view, player tunnel, broadcast booth, and a roaming courtside perspective. The feed runs at up to 150 Mbps and uses Spatial Audio captured by ambisonic microphones to reproduce sneaker squeaks, net swishes, and crowd roar. In-game graphics player rosters, shot clocks, and scores float in 3D space directly in front of viewers.
The broadcast team includes Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mark Rogondino and former three-time NBA champion Danny Green as analyst. During timeouts and halftime, the stream stays live inside the arena, showing pregame introductions, team huddles, and in-arena entertainment.
Availability and Access
Live games are restricted to Apple Vision Pro users in the Lakers’ regional broadcast territory: Southern California, Hawaii, and parts of southern Nevada, including Las Vegas. Spectrum Internet customers and video subscribers with packages that include Spectrum SportsNet can watch via the new Spectrum SportsNet app. Users with a free NBA ID can also access live games through the NBA app.
Outside the regional territory, full-game replays and highlights become available to U.S. users with a free NBA ID as early as 24 hours after each game ends. International Vision Pro users in Japan, Singapore, and South Korea can watch live games via the NBA app, while users in Australia, France, Germany, the UAE, and the UK get on-demand replays.
Game Schedule
| Date | Matchup | Venue | Time (PT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 9 | Bucks vs Lakers | Crypto.com Arena | 7:30 p.m. |
| Feb 5 | 76ers vs Lakers | Crypto.com Arena | 7 p.m. |
| Feb 20 | Clippers vs Lakers | Crypto.com Arena | 7 p.m. |
| Mar 5 | Lakers at Nuggets | Ball Arena | 7 p.m. |
| Mar 10 | Timberwolves vs Lakers | Crypto.com Arena | 8 p.m. |
| Mar 30 | Wizards vs Lakers | Crypto.com Arena | 7 p.m. |
Why This Matters
Spectrum Front Row represents the first sustained live sports commitment in Apple Immersive Video format, which previously focused on short-form content and documentary-style films. The partnership addresses criticism that Vision Pro’s immersive content library felt sparse relative to the device’s $3,499 starting price. Live sports streaming with multiple simultaneous camera angles and 3D spatial integration could differentiate Vision Pro from traditional streaming services and competing VR headsets.
For Spectrum, the initiative extends its regional sports network reach into spatial computing at a time when traditional cable subscriptions continue declining. Lakers fans who already subscribe to Spectrum Internet or video services get access without additional fees beyond the Vision Pro hardware investment.
Technical Requirements
Spectrum Front Row in Apple Immersive runs on Apple Vision Pro with M5 or M2 chips running visionOS 26 or later. The Spectrum SportsNet app for Vision Pro is free to download in the U.S., but authentication of an active Spectrum Internet subscription or a video subscription that includes Spectrum SportsNet is required for live access. The NBA app for Vision Pro is free across 12 countries, with an NBA ID needed to watch Spectrum Front Row where available.
Apple Vision Pro is currently available in 13 markets: Australia, Canada, China mainland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, the UAE, the UK, and the U.S.. Spectrum Front Row in Apple Immersive will not stream in Canada, China mainland, Hong Kong, or Taiwan.
What’s Next
Apple has not announced whether Spectrum Front Row will expand beyond the initial six-game slate or include other teams after the 2026 Lakers series concludes. The company previewed seven new Apple Immersive films in September 2025, including content from MotoGP, BBC, CNN, and Red Bull, signaling broader investment in the format. Whether other regional sports networks or leagues adopt the immersive broadcast model remains unclear, though the NBA app infrastructure suggests potential scalability.
Featured Snippet Boxes
When does Spectrum Front Row start on Apple Vision Pro?
Spectrum Front Row launches January 9, 2026, with Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Lakers at 7:30 p.m. PT. Six games run through March 30, 2026.
Can I watch Lakers games on Vision Pro outside California?
Live games are region-locked to Southern California, Hawaii, and parts of Nevada. Full replays become available nationwide and in select international markets 24 hours after live broadcasts.
How much does Spectrum Front Row cost?
Spectrum Front Row is included with existing Spectrum Internet or video subscriptions that carry Spectrum SportsNet. Users need only the Apple Vision Pro headset, which starts at $3,499.
What makes Apple Immersive Video different from regular streaming?
Apple Immersive Video uses 180-degree 3D 8K recording with Spatial Audio and multiple simultaneous camera angles. Graphics appear as floating 3D elements, and ambisonic microphones capture positional arena sound.
