The BBC has been a strong supporter of virtual reality (VR) for sometime now, having created project like The Turning Forest for Samsung Gear VR and BBC Earth partnering with Oculus on several experiences. Today BBC Taster, which deals with early and experimental ideas, has announced the BBC Taster VR App featuring content from BBC Three and Planet Earth II.
Developed using technology from EEVO to help BBC teams publish experimental mobile VR experiences, BBC Taster VR will feature a range of content such as animated VR, interactive 360° videos, dynamic binaural audio and branching narratives.
The first experiences to launch with the app include a trailer for upcoming BBC Three feature-length documentary One Deadly Weekend in America, new interactive 360-degree content from Planet Earth II, enabling viewers to choose their path through the story.
Andy Conroy, Controller of BBC Research and Development, said in a statement: “BBC Taster VR will be a fantastic showcase for some brilliant new commissions, as well as some new takes on some of the best BBC Taster VR experiences to date. It gives audiences cutting-edge mobile VR experiences from the BBC and, crucially, gives our editorial and technical teams even greater insight.”
Available for free on both Android and iOS platforms, the app will be regularly updated with new VR experiences over the coming weeks and months.
“Since moving online, BBC Three has already delivered best in class storytelling, great curation, content which reflects the diversity of the UK, and now it’s time for us to innovate even more. My new role as editorial lead for BBC Taster will help use new technologies to explore a new ways to tell stories that will engage our audience, said Damian Kavanagh, Controller, BBC Three. “This new VR trailer is a fantastic first step. Using virtual reality it literally puts the audience in the shoes of the victims of gun crime featured in our truly brilliant feature-length documentary, One Deadly Weekend in America. It’s the first time the BBC has ever used VR in this way, and offers a whole new way to engage an audience.”
As the BBC continues its development of VR, VRFocus will bring you the latest updates.
Speaking on the convention’s official website, festival head Elena Malakhatka said: “Our goal was to create a unique meeting point for those who are passionate about their profession, no matter if it is science, cinema, VR, education or anything else and to share their passion with each other. That’s why we created VR Expo zone, series of workshops, lectures and discussions about the future of the technology, as well as Art zone and showcase of the world best artistic VR experiences as a part of Kaleidoscope VR World Tour”.