Sky to launch VR app this summer

Sky has confirmed it will launch a virtual reality app this summer as part of its commitment to the burgeoning technology.

Announcing its results for the 12 months ended June 30, Sky said that the launch of the VR app would cement the company’s “leadership in innovative, immersive content”.

The app is part of the company’s “new mission to create high-end productions, exclusive to Sky VR” and follows the establishment earlier this year of Sky VR Studios – a production hub for immersive VR content.

Sky first announced the creation of its VR studio back in March, at the same time as it released its first two films, shot during Formula 1 testing in Barcelona.

These were produced in conjunction with Formula One Management and Williams Martini Racing and were made available via the Facebook 360 Video platform.

At the time, the pay TV broadcaster said that over the coming year, its VR studio will create more than 20 individual film spanning cultural and sporting events.

Confirmation of the VR app launch came as Sky announced a number of planned innovations and launches, including the rollout of its Sky 1 and Sky Cinema Family channels this autumn in Germany and Austria and the release of its next generation entertainment system Sky Q in Italy in 2017.