NBCUniversal is partnering with Google to produce virtual reality (VR) content that will give audiences a distinctive way to experience their favorite networks and shows. These VR projects will include original content from “Saturday Night Live,” Bravo Media’s “Vanderpump Rules,” and SYFY WIRE. The first show to be aired will be a backstage tour of the dog rescue reality show, Vanderpump Rules. In the coming months, NBCUniversal will add more content to their networks. E!, NBC, NBC News, NBC Sports, SYFY, Telemundo, and USA Network projects will also be included in the future. These programs will be available on YouTube and can be viewed on the web or using any mobile phone.
“We are constantly looking for opportunities to bring consumers new ways to experience content from across the NBCUniversal portfolio,” said Ron Lamprecht, Executive Vice President of NBCUniversal Digital Enterprises. “This partnership combines the creative expertise of NBCUniversal with Google’s VR capabilities to create these engaging experiences. We look forward to working with Google and YouTube on more collaborations like this in the future.”
This collaboration will be for at least ten multi-episode VR productions through which fans will be able to get closer to the shows they love by being inside the scene and taking a look all around by making use of NBCUniversal’s content and Google’s technology. These experiences are produced via Jump, Google’s platform for VR video capture which combines high-quality VR cameras and automated stitching. For a high-quality experience, the users can watch in VR using Google Cardboard or Daydream View.
Amit Singh, vice president of business and operations for VR & AR at Google, added, “NBCUniversal’s networks and shows have a proven track record of high-quality storytelling that audiences can’t get enough of. Bringing them to VR lets fans connect with that content in a whole new way. NBCU’s teams were able to easily capture engaging VR content using the latest VR Jump cameras. And with YouTube, audiences can experience it on any device, bringing them closer to their favorite series.”
