Apparatus and method for providing media services with telepresence

A method comprising:

• receiving, by a processing system including a processor, two-dimensional (2D) media content from a media source;
• receiving, by the processing system, first video content captured by a first camera system at a first location associated with a first user;
• generating, by the processing system, a first depth map based on the first video content;
• receiving, by the processing system, second video content captured by a second camera system at a second location associated with a second user;
• generating, by the processing system, a second depth map based on the second video content;
• generating, by the processing system, a third depth map associated with the media content;
• providing, by the processing system, over a network the media content, the second video content, the second depth map, and the third depth map to a first processor for presentation at a first display device utilizing a first telepresence configuration that simulates being present in an audience with the second user, wherein the first display device is located at the first location;
• and
• providing, by the processing system, over the network the media content, the first video content, the first depth map, and the third depth map to a second processor for presentation at a second display device utilizing a second telepresence configuration that simulates being present in the audience with the first user, wherein the second display device is located at the second location,
• wherein the first processor generates first three-dimensional (3D) content including the media content and the first video content in accordance with the first depth map and the third depth map, and the second processor generates second 3D content including the media content and the second video content in accordance with the second depth map and the third depth map.

A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

• receiving media content from a media source;
• receiving first video content captured by a first camera system at a first location associated with a first user;
• generating a first depth map based on the first video content;
• receiving second video content captured by a second camera system at a second location associated with a second user;
• generating a second depth map based on the second video content;
• obtaining a third depth map associated with the media content;
• encoding the media content and the third depth map into a video stream;
• providing over a network the second video content, the second depth map, and the video stream to a first processor for presentation at a first display device utilizing a first telepresence configuration that simulates being present in an audience with the second user, wherein the first display device is located at the first location;
• and
• providing over the network the first video content, the first depth map, and the video stream to a second processor for presentation at a second display device utilizing a second telepresence configuration that simulates being present in the audience with the first user, wherein the second display device is located at the second location,
• wherein the first processor generates first three-dimensional (3D) content including the media content and the first video content in accordance with the first depth map and the third depth map, and the second processor generates second 3D content including the media content and the second video content in accordance with the second depth map and the third depth map.