One of the first instances where we see Virtual Replay being used in sports was in 1998 for Sunday Night Football when ESPN used "Sportvision's 1st& Ten" electronic first down system. This system made it so that viewers at home could see a virtual line on their TV that represented where the first down marker was on the field. After ESPN used this for the first time, 92% of viewers reported that they preferred watching games this way and 64% of viewers reported that it helped them to understand the game better.
This marked one of the earliest instances where Virtual Replay was applied in sports during Sunday Night Football in 1998 when ESPN employed Sportvision's electronic first down system. This allowed viewers at home to see a virtual line on their TV showing the location of the first down marker on the field. Following ESPN's introduction, 92% of viewers preferred this method and 64% reported that it enhanced their comprehension of the game.