Virtual Reality Is Here. Is Television Ready?

Virtual Reality is Here.
Is Television Ready?
Nicole Greiner
Henner Herwig Jürgens
VAST MEDIA, Germany
Cannes, France
http://www.miptv.com http://mipcom.com
VIRTUAL REALITY IS HERE. IS TELEVISION READY?
INTRODUCTION
Virtual Reality has finally made its way into consumers' living rooms. While some years ago, the technology was still the stuff of
science fiction and later primarily associated with simulation training and as the future of video gaming, virtual reality has become
much more prominent among a mainstream audience. We are entering the consumer VR era.
The story began in 2012, when Palmer Luckey founded the virtual reality company Oculus VR to produce a new, more effective headmounted display named Oculus Rift. In 2014, the company was acquired for $2 billion by Facebook. Much has happened since then:
with more players striving to get a slice of the pie, virtual reality isn't reserved for technology freaks and experts anymore. Once
impossible for most consumers to adopt, due to the high cost of the technology, VR is becoming more and more affordable thanks to
a range of (upcoming) VR headsets.
Affordable devices and VR companies on the rise
Devices such as Google Cardboard, which was introduced in 2014 and turns nearly any iPhone or Android phone into a virtual reality
viewer in a simple and fun way, and the recently launched $99 Samsung Gear VR headset powered by Oculus are low-cost ways to
experience virtual reality and provide a glimpse of the future. In 2016, more companies like HTC with the HTC Vive headset (powered
by SteamVR), Sony with PlayStation VR and Oculus with its Oculus Rift consumer edition, will follow suit.
Virtual reality is finally here and offers companies in the entertainment industry exciting new opportunities. TV in particular might be
the medium that will eventually let VR break into the mainstream with immersive experiences and storytelling innovations that might
change the way we consume content in the future.
Numerous production companies specialized in the production of virtual reality content assist TV networks in developing VR
experiences for their viewers and are getting love from big media companies. The California-based startup NextVR, which was
founded in 2009, for example has just recently got $30.5 million funding from media companies including Comcast, Time Warner and
Dick Clark Productions. Others, whose work is also featured in this whitepaper, include VR content studio Ovrture, which was
launched by 44 Blue Productions in May 2015, and Jaunt, a VR technology and filmmaking company that raised over $100 million
from investors including The Walt Disney Company, Sky, TPG Capital, Google Venture, Axel Springer SE and ProSiebenSat.1 SE.
VIRTUAL REALITY IS HERE. IS TELEVISION READY?
INTRODUCTION
The future of TV
Over the last few months, TV audiences could already witness the results of their work and get an impression of how the future might
look like. As more and more broadcasters dip their toes into VR waters, they illustrate the great potential of the technology in different
fields and genres.
Documentaries for example are perfectly suited for the use of VR technology. As they usually aim to introduce the audience to an
issue or world as vividly as possible, virtual reality provides useful tools of doing so. Using a VR headset, viewers can completely
immerse themselves and are transported to sceneries which they can explore on their own. For that purpose, Discovery
Communications for example launched 'Discovery VR', its own VR platform and app, which includes various immersive 360°-videos
that let viewers explore ship wrecks, go surfing with a pro and much more.
Similarly, reality TV formats can make use of the technology to have their shows become even more "real", as demonstrated by
A&E's "Nightwatch". Letting viewers for once step into the shoes of first responders on their night shift through a realistic 360°
experience creates a whole new perspective of the show, which cannot be achieved through regular episodes on TV.
The same goes for news stories. To for example show viewers the full extent of the refugee crisis, Sky News teamed up with Jaunt to
produce a report that depicts the refugees' situation in Greece. Depressing images of crowded beaches and dirty accommodations,
which can be explored in virtual reality, give a much deeper impression of how the real situation looks like. Impressions which, again,
cannot be gained by only watching the news on TV or reading the newspaper.
Live show have already proven to be a perfect fit for virtual reality experiences as well. Through 360° live streams, as offered by MTV
for the 2015 MTV Europe Music Awards in Milan, viewers can experience shows and events in a whole new way and get a sense of
being there themselves. But also providing 360° footage after a show has aired, such as German late night show "Circus HalliGalli"
did with an episode shot in November 2015, can be a real added value for audiences as they can literally rewatch a show from a new
perspective and maybe discover details they did not see in the TV broadcast.
VIRTUAL REALITY IS HERE. IS TELEVISION READY?
INTRODUCTION
The same opportunities and benefits apply to sports, as virtual reality allows fans to fully immerse themselves in the action from the
comfort of their own home. Through a cooperation between TNT and NextVR in October 2015, basketball fans were able to follow the
NBA's opening game on the Samsung Gear VR headset and virtually sit in the front row. Showtime exclusively released 360° footage
of the boxing match between WBA Middleweight World Champion Daniel Jacobs and challenger Peter Quillin on the Showtime
Boxing Facebook page. And Eurosport let winter sports fans experience what it is like to step into the skis of a professional alpine
skier in a spectacular 360° video starring Bode Miller. These are only a few example of the promising possibilities for all types of
sport.
But the technology provides opportunities for fiction as well, as shown by FOX and ABC Family. While FOX caters to fans of its
popular horror comedy "Scream Queens" by offering virtual behind-the-scenes tours, ABC Family uses VR for storytelling purposes
and lets fans of sci-fi drama "Stitchers" solve their own murder case in a web and mobile game with an optional virtual reality mode.
Both examples show how VR can extend TV shows and engage an audience. Allowing fans to (virtually) wander through the
locations of their favorite shows might be a dream of the past.
Although not included and covered in more detail in this whitepaper, some apps for Samsung's Gear VR are worth mentioning.
Netflix, of course, has already embraced virtual reality technology as well and launched an app for the Gear VR that allows users to
watch Netflix in a virtual living room. Competitor Hulu has also announced a VR app for the device, which was set to launch on Black
Friday but has been delayed. The company additionally creates a virtual reality movie titled "The Big One”. Samsung itself is one step
ahead of everyone else and teamed up with Skybound Entertainment (the production company behind hit series "The Walking Dead")
to create "Gone", the very first virtual reality thriller exclusively produced for the Gear VR. In the interactive series, a mother tries to
find her missing daughter. The viewers, who experience the story from multiple perspectives and in 360°, are invited to help solve the
mystery in eleven five- to six-minute episodes.
The following whitepaper covers twelve early adopters from the six fields described above - documentary, reality TV, news, live
shows, sports and fiction - that give a glimpse of the extent to which virtual reality might change the way we consume TV content.
Virtual reality is here. Now it is up to the content producers to make it consumer-ready and attractive to a mass audience.
VIRTUAL REALITY IS HERE. IS TELEVISION READY?
INDEX
DISCOVERY VR // DISCOVERY CHANNEL ................................................................................ p. 07
LOCKUP 360 // MSNBC ................................................................................................................ p. 10
NIGHTWATCH: 360° VIDEO EXPERIENCE // A&E ...................................................................... p. 12
A CRIME TO REMEMBER: VIRTUAL CRIME SCENE // INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY ............ p. 14
SKY NEWS: MIGRANT CRISIS - THE WHOLE PICTURE // SKY ................................................ p. 18
ABC NEWS VR // ABC .................................................................................................................. p. 21
2015 EUROPE MUSIC AWARDS: EMA VR EXPERIENCE // MTV ............................................... p. 23
CIRCUS HALLIGALLI: 360° WAHNSINN // PROSIEBEN ............................................................. p. 25
BIRDS OF PREY 360° WITH BODE MILLER // EUROSPORT ..................................................... p. 26
360° VR BOXING MATCH // SHOWTIME ..................................................................................... p. 27
SCREAM QUEENS: 360 CLOSET SET TOUR // FOX ................................................................. p. 28
STITCHERS: HACK THE CASE // ABC FAMILY .......................................................................... p. 30
DISCOVERY CHANNEL
DISCOVERY VR (PART 1/3)
1) On August 27, Discovery Communications launched its own
virtual reality platform titled 'Discovery VR'. The initiative offers fans
various immersive 360-degree videos from for example shipwrecks
and the woods. The experience is available at DiscoveryVR.com,
through the Discovery VR app for iOS and Android devices, the
Samsung Milk VR premium video service and on Discovery's
YouTube channels. The Discovery VR apps and the website-player
technology are powered by Littlstar, the first network and community
for 360-degree panoramic video and VR content.
2) At launch, the initial offering consisted of nine short-form
videos with talent from Discovery, Science Channel and
Discovery Digital Networks. The collection aims at promoting
some of Discovery's on-air and digital shows and therefore
includes behind-the-scenes clips from shows like "Mythbusters",
"Gold Rush" or "Survivorman". Discovery plans on continuously
adding new content. The clips are divided into four categories:
Mythbusters Shark Dive, Shows, Adventure and Planet.
Copyright: Discovery Communications, LLC
DISCOVERY CHANNEL
DISCOVERY VR (PART 2/3)
3) The Discovery VR experience is
available across different platforms.
5) Another way for users to
immerse themselves into the
interactive experience is by
downloading the Discovery VR
app for iOS or Android devices.
By simply moving the mobile
device around, it serves as a
kind of 'magic window' to look
around a scene.
4) For one, the clips can be viewed on desktop on the dedicated
website DiscoveryVR.com. To explore and discover new angles
within the videos, users can simply use the click and drag
navigation. All clips are accompanied by ambient sound and onor off-screen audio commentary. Some include graphics or text
to emphasize certain things such as the instructions given by
pro surfer Kyle Thiermann. A fold-out menu on the right reveals
additional information such as a short description and the
credits. Moreover, users can directly comment on the videos or
share them across Facebook and Twitter.
Copyright: Discovery Communications, LLC
DISCOVERY CHANNEL
DISCOVERY VR (PART 3/3)
6) Google Cardboard owners can use
their fold-out cardboard mounts for
mobile phones for an even more
immersive experience. Discovery VR is
also supported by Samsung Gear VR.
7) All 360-degree videos can also be
watched on Discovery Channel's
official YouTube channel.
8) To promote the initiative and engage audiences
across all social networks, Discovery encourages
fans to share images of other users experiencing
the 360-degree videos. All photos tagged with
#DiscoveryVR are accumulated in a Spreadfastpowered social hub at DiscoveryVR.com
Copyright: Discovery Communications, LLC
MSNBC
LOCKUP 360 (PART 1/2)
1) In mid-November 2015, MSNBC and
virtual reality studio Ovrture launched the VR
app 'Lockup 360' based on the long-running
prison documentary series "Lockup", whose
new season "Lockup: Extended Stay"
premiered on November 21. 'Lockup 360'
allows users to immerse themselves into a
maximum security prison and experience
what it feels like to be locked up behind bars.
3) Non-app users have the option
to access the content through
Facebook 360, Oculus Share,
Milk VR, Vrideo.com and YouTube
360. Here, desktop users can
navigate through the settings via
click and drag navigation instead
of turning their heads, i.e. their
mobile devices.
2) The free app is available on
the Google Play Store and the
Apple App Store. For the best
experience it is recommended
to use a Google Cardboard or
another VR Headset.
Copyright: NBC Universal
MSNBC
LOCKUP 360 (PART 2/2)
4) The first 'Lockup 360' episode
takes viewers inside the Rio
Cosumnes Correctional Center in
Sacramento.
6) The story then shifts to
the point of view of deputies
raiding a cellblock.
5) The nine-minute debut episode
was released on November 12
and takes viewers from outside
the prison into the interior. First,
the experience focuses on the
day-to-day lives of the inmates,
following them to the cells and
common areas.
7) The video also provides
additional information with the
help of temporary video screens
and other graphical overlays.
Copyright: NBC Universal
A&E
NIGHTWATCH: 360° VIDEO EXPERIENCE (PART 1/2)
2) In addition, the 360-degree
video was made available on
Facebook, which started to
support the immersive video
format in September 2015.
1) On November 5, 2015, A&E debuts
season two of its docu-reality series
"Nightwatch", which follows elite teams
of Emergency Medical Services crews in
New Orleans as they work their busy
night shifts. To provide viewers with a
first look at the upcoming season, a 360degree virtual reality video was uploaded
to the network's official YouTube channel
on October 29, 2015.
3) Created by virtual reality content
studio Ovrture, the seven-minute video
lets viewers step into the shoes of the
"Nightwatch" first responders. A voice
over introduces viewers to their job and
actual emergency calls can be heard.
Copyright: A&E Television Networks, LLC
A&E
NIGHTWATCH: 360° VIDEO EXPERIENCE (PART 2/2)
5) Viewers can watch the video on a desktop and explore
the surroundings via click and drag navigation. However,
to fully immerse themselves in the experience it is
recommended to watch the video on a mobile device
which then functions as a 'magic window'. Alternatively,
users can also simply swipe the screen on mobile
devices. The YouTube video generated around 7.2k clicks
within five days after launch while the Facebook video
almost generated 3k views within four days after release.
4) They then follow the case
of domestic violence in
which a woman got beaten
up by her boyfriend.
Copyright: A&E Television Networks, LLC
INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY
A CRIME TO REMEMBER: VIRTUAL CRIME SCENE
(PART 1/4)
1) On November 10, 2015, Investigation Discovery's Emmy-winning
series "A Crime to Remember", which highlights the most shocking
crimes during the 1950s and 1960s, returned for a third season.
Prior to the much anticipated premiere, the channel allowed users to
step back into the era by experiencing a 360° virtual reality crime
scene. The immersive experience can be accessed on
ACrimeToRemember.com, a new interactive website that provides a
lot of other bonus content to explore the world of the series.
2) The collage-style website can
either be explored on desktop or
mobile devices. To navigate the
site on a desktop, users can
simply click and drag or access
the fly-out menu on the right.
3) The virtual 360° crime
scene within the website is
also explorable from either a
desktop or a mobile device.
Copyright: Discovery Communications, LLC
INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY
A CRIME TO REMEMBER: VIRTUAL CRIME SCENE
(PART 2/4)
5) When accessing the experience
on a mobile device, users are
redirected to the 360° video on
YouTube, where they can simply
move the device to explore the
scene.
4) The two-minute video of the
virtual crime scene on the website
is powered by Kolor. To move
around the scene, desktop users
can simply drag their mouse or use
the arrow keys on their keyboard.
6) The video features two investigators inspecting a
crime scene from the mid-20th century. A dead
woman is lying in her bed while the two move around
to take photos and find clues. Throughout the video, a
variety of general facts about crime in that era and the
differences to today's time appear on screen.
Copyright: Discovery Communications, LLC
INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY
A CRIME TO REMEMBER: VIRTUAL CRIME SCENE
(PART 3/4)
7) Next to the virtual crime scene,
visitors of ACrimeToRemember.com
are provided with links to Amazon
Prime Instant Video where they can
watch previous seasons on demand.
9) Each case comes with
background information,
images and a short teaser
video.
8) Furthermore, the website allows
users to get sneak peaks of three new
cases from the upcoming season 'The Real-Life Fugitive', 'Murder Of
Innocence' and 'Casual Affairs'.
Copyright: Discovery Communications, LLC
INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY
A CRIME TO REMEMBER: VIRTUAL CRIME SCENE
(PART 4/4)
11) The section 'Living Photographs'
gives access to a GIF-gallery illustrating
cases from the series' first season.
10) Short interviews with cast and
crew members let users take a look
at the creation process of the series.
12) Each case is presented
with the help of GIFs, images,
actual newspaper articles and
informative text.
Copyright: Discovery Communications, LLC
SKY
SKY NEWS: MIGRANT CRISIS - THE WHOLE PICTURE
(PART 1/3)
1) Pay-TV operator Sky is one of the latest media
companies to embrace the possibilities of virtual reality
technology. In mid-November 2015, the operator's Sky
News service has launched its first virtual reality report titled
'Migrant Crisis - The Whole Picture', designed to give
viewers a first person look at Europe’s migrant crisis. The
four-minute report from journalist Alistair Bucknall was
made in collaboration with Jaunt Inc., a pioneering virtual
reality company in which Sky invested last year.
2) The report was filmed using the new Jaunt
ONE VR camera. Sky News correspondent
Alistair Bucknall provides commentary and
shows users around different locations in
Greece. That way, users get an impression
on how it looks and feels like on a crowded
beach where refugees just landed.
Copyright: Sky
SKY
SKY NEWS: MIGRANT CRISIS - THE WHOLE PICTURE
(PART 2/3)
3) He also takes viewers inside a tent where
refugees reside. Bucknall was accompanied by
Sky News cameraman Adam Murch and Kenny
Voelker from Jaunt.
4) One way to watch the report is by
downloading the Jaunt app for iOS or
Android and use a Cardboard headset.
Copyright: Sky
SKY
SKY NEWS: MIGRANT CRISIS - THE WHOLE PICTURE
(PART 3/3)
5) Users that do not own a Cardboard viewer can
still experience the video in 360° by opening the
video on Sky News' Facebook page or YouTube
channel and then move the mobile device around.
On a desktop, the video can also be watched on
Facebook or YouTube. To navigate around the
screen and get the 360° view, users simply need to
click and drag their mouse within a scene.
7) … and how the public reacts to
the reports in virtual reality.
6) Sky has also released two
additional videos to demonstrate
how the technology works …
Copyright: Sky
ABC
ABC NEWS VR (PART 1/2)
1) On September 16, 2015, ABC News introduced 'ABC News
VR', its first virtual reality project that allows viewers to
immerse themselves in interactive news reports. The first 360°
video takes viewers to the streets of Syrian capital Damascus.
It is viewable on ABC News' dedicated website and via the
mobile app of Jaunt VR, the virtual reality tech company that
assisted ABC News with bringing the project to life.
2) Back in August 2015, ABC News correspondent
Alexander Marquardt and his team traveled to Damascus
to capture the footage with a device that had 16 different
cameras mounted on it. To create the 360° view, the
images were then stitched together. In the video,
Marquardt then walks through different locations of the
war-torn capital and explains how archaeologists are
trying to protect historical antiquities menaced by war.
Copyright: ABC News Internet Ventures / Variety Media, LLC
ABC
ABC NEWS VR (PART 2/2)
3) One option for viewers to immerse
themselves in the storytelling
experience is by visiting ABC News'
website on a desktop. To explore the
video, users can use the simple click
and drag navigation.
5) ABC News even used its social
media accounts to distribute short
videos that explain how to
assemble and use those VR rigs.
According to ABC, the news
organization plans on using the
technology for more reporting
from places like Cuba or for big
events such as the upcoming US
trip of Pope Francis.
4) However, to take full advantage of the
immersive news report, users need to download
the Jaunt app for Android or iOS devices and
select the Inside Syria VR video. The broadcast
can then be viewed after placing a phone in a
basic VR rig such as a Google Cardboard.
Copyright: ABC News Internet Ventures / Variety Media, LLC
MTV
2015 EUROPE MUSIC AWARDS: EMA VR EXPERIENCE
(PART 1/2)
1) The 2015 "MTV Europe Music Awards", which
took place on October 25 in Milan, were the first
global music awards show that was fully available
as a 360-degree virtual reality live stream, giving
fans and viewers across the globe the chance to
fully immerse themselves in the action. The initiative
was realized by production company East City Films
with technical support of Alongside Mativision.
2) Accessible via the official free "MTV Europe
Music Awards" app for iOS and Android, the live
stream not only featured the main show, but
also the red carpet pre-show. After downloading
the app and accessing the dedicated VR
section, viewers were able to choose different
options to experience the stream.
Copyright: Viacom International Inc.
MTV
2015 EUROPE MUSIC AWARDS: EMA VR EXPERIENCE
(PART 2/2)
3) Users without a VR viewer such
as a Google Cardboard headset
could still access the 360-degree
viewing experience by swiping the
screen to see different angles.
5) After the event, selected
performances were made
available as 360-degree virtual
reality videos within the "MTV
Europe Music Awards" app.
4) Alternatively, users could activate the
gyro mode which allowed them to move
their mobile device to look around a scene.
Copyright: Viacom International Inc.
PROSIEBEN
CIRCUS HALLIGALLI: 360° WAHNSINN
2) Desktop users can explore the
scenery via simple click and drag
navigation. Mobile devices function
as 'magic windows' and can be
moved around to obtain a full
immersive experience.
1) On November 23, 2015, ProSieben aired
an episode of German late night show
"Circus HalliGalli" that the viewers can
literally enjoy to its full extent as the first
part of the show was shot with an additional
360° camera. After the episode, a 360°
video of the first seven minutes of the show
was uploaded to the official Facebook page
and YouTube channel of "Circus HalliGalli".
3) Since viewers are able to decide on
their own from which perspective they
like to watch the episode, the 360°
feature creates a whole new impression
of the show and provides a glimpse into
the atmosphere in the studio. Within only
20 hours, the 360° video generated
more than 250.000 views on Facebook
and YouTube combined.
Copyright: ProSiebenSat.1 Digital GmbH
EUROSPORT
BIRDS OF PREY 360° WITH BODE MILLER
1) To celebrate and accompany the Alpine Skiing World Cup stop in
Beaver Creek, USA, from December 4 through 6, 2015, panEuropean sports network Eurosport teamed up with Bode Miller to let
winter sports fans experience what it is like to step into the skis of a
professional alpine skier flying down the famous "Birds of Prey"
course. In a 360° video on Facebook, which was produced in
collaboration with Discovery VR and released on December 4, fans
can now exclusively experience the downhill course from Miller's
point of view.
3) During the 360° virtual reality journey
downhill, users can click and drag or move
their mobile device in any direction to look
around. The video is also available in the
Discovery VR app. Within the first 48hours, the
video generated more than 350,000 views on
Facebook and was shared over 7,000 times.
2) The virtual reality video experience takes fans
closer to the action than ever before. To produce
the video, two GoPro cameras and a 220° fish
eye lens were attached to each ski stick. Bode
Miller, who is not competing in the 2015/16 World
Cup, performed the run exclusively for Eurosport.
Copyright: Eurosport
SHOWTIME
360° VR BOXING MATCH
1) For the first time ever, a full professional
boxing match was released in 360° immersive
virtual reality. On December 5, 2015, cable
network SHOWTIME captured the fight
between WBA Middleweight World Champion
Daniel Jacobs and challenger Peter Quillin at
the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
3) Within 18 hours after its
release, the video generated
over 65K views on YouTube
and Facebook combined.
2) The 360° footage was made available on
December 8 on SHOWTIME Sport's YouTube
channel, the SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook
page, on the Samsung Gear VR via the MILK
VR app and on Littlestar VR apps for Samsung
Gear VR, iOS and Android. Dubbed 'Battle For
Brooklyn', the fight ended after a first-round
knockout of Peter Quillin. Viewers at home had
the chance to follow the march-in of the
athletes, the crowd reactions and the fight itself.
Copyright: Showtime Networks Inc. / Showtime Digital Inc.
FOX
SCREAM QUEENS: 360 CLOSET SET TOUR (PART 1/2)
1) To push its recently launched 360° video feature forward,
Facebook partnered with several broadcasters who make use of
this technology to promote their content. Among them is FOX's
horror comedy series "Scream Queens", which released a '360
Closet Set Tour' of one of the character's bedrooms on its official
Facebook page on November 12, 2015. The virtual set tour
marked the beginning of 'Scream Queens 360 VR', an exclusive
weekly VR experience that takes fans behind-the-scenes of the
popular series and is also available on YouTube 360. The
immersive behind the scenes videos are produced with the help
of virtual reality production company SuperSphere.
2) The 360° set tours provide fans with an
unique look behind the scenes of the show. In
the closet set tour, the "Scream Queens"
production designer Andrew Murdock guides
viewers through the bedroom and closet of
Chanel, on of the show's main characters.
Copyright: FOX
FOX
SCREAM QUEENS: 360 CLOSET SET TOUR (PART 2/2)
3) Other videos of 'Scream Queens
360 VR' for example take fans to the
wardrobe tailer, in which costume
designer Lauren Bott talks about the
costumes of the characters, …
5) All videos can be watched on desktop
or mobile devices. On desktop, users
have to drag their mouse in order to
change perspective, on mobile devices
they can look around by swiping the
screen or moving with the device.
4) … or inside another Kappa (the sorority the series
centers on) closet, in which cast members Keke Palmer
and Skyler Samuels have a chat, a screaming contest
and talk about the production of the show in general.
Throughout the videos, viewers can look around and
explore the scenery independently.
Copyright: FOX
ABC FAMILY
STITCHERS: HACK THE CASE (PART 1/3)
2) At start, users need to answer several
questions to prove that they are ready to
take the challenge. Participants for
example need to look at a picture or
watch a short video and then answer
related questions afterwards.
1) On June 2, 2015, ABC Family debuted its sci-fi drama series
"Stitchers", which follows a young woman, Kirsten, who was recruited
by a covert government agency to be 'stitched' into the minds of recent
murder victims and is using their minds to investigate the cases.
Accompanying the premiere, the network launched 'Stitchers: Hack
The Case', an official game based on the series, which challenges
users to solve a case by immersing themselves in a 360-degree video
experience. The game is available on Stitchers.com and as an app for
iOS and Android devices. For a full immersive experience, it is
recommended to select the optional virtual reality mode and to use a
VR viewer with a mobile device.
Copyright: ABC Family / Variety Media, LLC
ABC FAMILY
STITCHERS: HACK THE CASE (PART 2/3)
3) Next, users are presented with a faux news
report that provides background information on the
case that has to be solved: a young woman named
Hazel Curtis was murdered by strangulation and is
the latest in a long line of victims. The case was
created by one of the show's writers.
4) Users are then being 'stitched' into the memories of
the victim shortly before she died. A 360-degree video
starts playing, which can be explored either via click
and drag navigation on a desktop or by simply moving
a mobile device, optionally in a VR viewer. While
watching the video, users are guided by one of the
series' characters who encourages them to look
around for useful evidence.
Copyright: ABC Family / Variety Media, LLC
ABC FAMILY
STITCHERS: HACK THE CASE (PART 3/3)
5) After the 360-degree video ends, users
need to answer related questions in order to
proceed to the next video. There are a total of
three videos with corresponding series of
questions. Questions for example include
'What color was the scarf that Hazel was killed
with?' or 'What items did you see in the truck?'
7) To maximize the VR brand
experience, ABC Family teamed up
with DODOcase to create and
distribute a branded and customized
pop-up VR smartphone viewer.
6) At the end, after having pieced the evidence together, users are
presented with three suspect profiles from which they need to
choose and accuse one. A second faux news report then sheds
light on the case and reveals the murderer. Another incentive for
users to play the game is the integrated sweepstakes which users
can enter for the chance to win a trip to Los Angeles
Copyright: ABC Family / Variety Media, LLC
About the Author
VAST MEDIA is a Berlin-based company specializing in tracking and benchmarking digital activities of
broadcasters, studios and TV producers worldwide.
The TV@WEB Database is part of VAST MEDIA's unique tracking services for the television and digital
entertainment industry. Daily updated, it is a comprehensive database with more than 4,000 case studies
ranging from Social TV campaigns, multiplatform storytelling and digital extensions of TV shows, to
second-screen apps, games and branded content.
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