Hulu TV And Netflix Want To Be Your New Virtual Reality
Movie and TV streaming conglomerate, Netflix, announced on Thursday at the Oculus Connect conference that they are developing a virtual reality (VR) app. Following immediately in their footsteps is Hulu TV. According to the LA Times, the creation of VR programs and devices don’t do justice to the drive Hollywood now feels to step more into the virtual world.
There was a magical time when, after watching a movie in the theater, you had to wait for it to come to VHS before watching it again. There was that pesky rewind and fast forward that took longer than anyone had patience for. If you enjoyed watching a particular TV show but missed an episode, you were out of luck until a rerun was played. After that came the DVD, at which point TV show collections caught up and began doing the same. Then there was Blu-Ray discs, followed by internet streaming, but many were still crying out for that extra step. They wanted that chance to be closer to their favorite stories.
That time has finally come, for the most part. Although Hulu expects the program to be out this fall, they have yet to set a release or launch date. They are firm, however, that the date will be decided at a later time.
Tech Radar announced that Hulu, along with various other streaming programs, will have a VR program available in the Oculus store for Samsung’s new Gear VR. Users will be able to purchase it as an app, which is convenient for near any tech lover. What this means for the world of movies and television is that more and more will be created with the VR world in mind. Creators will seek to make a product that is easily accessible in a variety of ways without compromise of quality. Hulu disclosed in a statement that users will still have the capability to access 2D content with the VR app, as well as stream “original virtual reality short-form,” Tech Radar reported. One won’t make the other go away, at least not yet. Hulu has chosen a VR short film produced by RocketJump and Lionsgate, titled The Big One, to begin this exciting venture.
The LA Times quoted Hulu’s vice president of device platforms, Julian Eggebrecht, as saying, “Providing viewers with dynamic environments of their choice and themed around their favorite shows provides a whole new level of engagement, which, together with our cinematic VR experiences, makes Hulu an exciting VR destination.”
Everyone wants to be the master of their environment. While watching entertainment, it can be no different. All it takes to dwell in your virtual reality, surrounded by the bounty that Hulu TV offers is $99. Provided, that is, that Hulu gets it’s app launched by the November release date of Samsung’s Gear VR; just in time for the busy holiday season. Who knows, maybe by 2016, everyone’s living room will look like the image below.
[Image credit to Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Hulu]
