Google, Discovery travel world in VR

Discovery Communications and Google have announced the launch of a new virtual reality (VR) series, Discovery TRVLR.

The 38-episode immersive series, created by the VR teams at both companies along with specialist VR prodco Here Be Dragons, will take viewers to each of the world’s seven continents and put them directly into stories among the cultures found there. Antarctica has been assigned two episodes, while the other six continents will have six episodes each.

The first chapter will launch next month on YouTube, DiscoveryVR.com and the Discovery VR app.

Google Daydream View headset users can experience the series in VR, as can those who have Google Cardboard, the company’s smartphone-supporting headset. The series can also be viewed through the web, android and iOS phones.

Rebecca Howard, senior VP of emerging platforms and partnerships at Discovery VR, said: “Discovery’s viewers look to us for innovation and expect to be taken places that satisfy their desire for exploration and adventure.

“Like Discovery, Google’s VR team shares a passion for VR storytelling and we are thrilled to partner with them on Discovery TRVLR, our most ambitious endeavour to date.”

Launched in August 2015, the Discovery VR app has topped 4.3 million downloads and 120 million organic views to date. Last November, Discovery branched out into the scripted arena with short film Haunted Castle.