YouTube announced today that it will be introducing 360-degree live streaming and spatial audio to its video sharing platform, bringing us one step closer to getting to experience obnoxious YouTube celebrities just like they were really there.

Of course, the real target of the new streaming capabilities are live events such as sporting events and concerts, and the service just so happens to be launching just in time for Coachella.

“We first launched support for 360-degree videos back in March 2015,” Neal Mohan, Chief Product Officer at YouTube, wrote in a blog post. “From musicians to athletes to brands, creators have done some incredible things with this technology.”

“Now, they’ll be able to do even more to bring fans directly into their world, with 360-degree live streaming. And after years of live streaming Coachella for fans around the world who can’t attend the festival, this year we’re bringing you the festival like never before by live streaming select artist performances in 360 degrees this weekend.”

In addition to 360-degree streaming, YouTube is also introducing spatial audio to its on-demand videos, which will help boost viewer immersion through the use of directional sound.

” Just as watching a concert in 360 degrees can give you an unmatched immersive experience, spatial audio allows you to listen along as you do in real life, where depth, distance and intensity all play a role,” Mohan explained.

YouTube says that it has been working with a number of companies throughout the virtual reality industry to provide full support for its new features, and it has already reached out to companies like VideoStitch and Two Big Ears to provide compatibility with their software.

“What excites me most about 360-degree storytelling is that it lets us open up the world’s experiences to everyone,” Mohan said. “Students can now experience news events in the classroom as they unfold. Travelers can experience faraway sites and explorers can deep-sea dive, all without the physical constraints of the real world. And today’s kids dreaming of going to a basketball game or a concert can access those experiences firsthand, even if they’re far away from the court.”

“What were once limited experiences are now available to anyone, anywhere, at any time.”

Photo by lhl