European broadcast group Sky has formed a new virtual reality division as part of its ongoing commitment to integrate the technology into its sports coverage.
Sky VR Studio will act as an in-house production unit and create virtual reality content for sports, movies, news and entertainment programming.
The first pieces of content will be two films produced during testing in Barcelona, Spain, ahead of the 2016 Formula One motor-racing world championship. The films were produced in conjunction with Formula One Management and the Williams team, with VR technology allowing viewers to access an in-car experience, as well as view coverage of the pit lane and team garages.
Due to be released tomorrow (Friday), the films were be made available via the Facebook 360 Video and Oculus platforms.
Sky, which said that it would produce 20 VR films during the course of 2016, also plans to launch a dedicated Sky VR mobile application. Further VR sports coverage this year will feature English boxer Anthony Joshua as well as the Team Sky professional cycling outfit.
Gary Davey, managing director for content at Sky, said: “The Sky VR Studio allows us to add a new dimension to storytelling, taking viewers to extraordinary places and offering a unique perspective on a whole host of events. This is just the start and we’re looking forward to creating more amazing VR content and exploring the possibilities with our tech and content partners.”