Hulu unveils Virtual Reality app for Samsung Gear VR

PanARMENIAN.Net - Hulu released an app for Samsung’s Gear VR headset Thursday, March 24 that allows consumers to watch close to 30 360-degree videos. The app, which is available on the Gear VR Oculus Store, also offers access to Hulu’s entire catalog of TV shows and movies via a virtual living room, Variety says.

Hulu had first announced its foray into VR back in September of 2015, but the company’s head of experience Ben Smith told Variety this week that his team decided to delay the release to get things right. “We really wanted to build an experience that we believe in,” he said.

Part of that was getting the app itself to work well, and find the best way for consumers to navigate through menus, and, according to Variety, switch between immersive VR videos and Hulu’s traditional library content. But Hulu also wanted to be able to launch with enough immersive content to keep people interested beyond the first viewing session. Said Smith: “Novelty is not going to be a pleasing experience over time.”

At launch, Hulu’s VR app includes close to 30 360-degree videos from Discovery Communications, Baobab Studios, the National Geographic Channel, RYOT, Showtime Networks, Viacom and others. And while many of those clips may be available elsewhere as well, there are also some exclusives, Variety says.

In addition, the app will also feature some exclusive National Geographic content, and premiere videos from SilVR Thread and Studio Transcendent.