As companies maneuver through content plans that include VR and AR, it is encouraging to see renewed interest with a doubling-down of efforts. Such a thing hopefully signals that the teams making the calls for immersive content truly value the medium.
Back in October of 2016, we reported on USA Today launching their cleverly named VR news series VRtually There. The show transported viewers to unfamiliar places, even giving us an intimate look at the Toughest Mudder endurance event, and USA Today has now announced the release of the second season.
The press release for the newly announced 2nd season of VRtually There revealed some exciting statistics for the first season. “With over ten million views of ‘VRtually There,’ we are bringing together amazing advances in VR technology and an even higher ambition to tell the most gripping stories and bring new experiences to our audience in VR,” says David Hamlin, Executive Producer of VRtually There. “We are focused on five content areas that we know our audience enjoyed based on prior performance, and are even more unique and thrilling for viewers.”
We don’t have any specific insight on the five content areas that VRtually There’s second season will focus on but, considering it mirror’s the debut episode, it stands to reason that the Hawaii hang-gliding focus on the first episode of season two means extreme sports did well with USA Today’s VR audience. In addition, the episode will give viewers a look at a Goodyear blimp that will be retired after 50 years in service and elephant seals in a California state park.
To tune into these stories you can get the Google Play app, check the VRtually There YouTube channel, or view on USA Today’s VR webpage. This new season will run from today, May 9th, through July 2017.
