Toyota Motor Corp is experimenting with a new type of advertising and that too by running the first ever commercial which is especially designed in order to be viewed within the USA Today’s new VR program as an immersive medium. The advertisement of Toyota’s 2017 Camry will make a debut on Thursday when it will be able to sponsor the first episode of “VRtually There” as told by the show’s creator, Gannett Co Inc’s USA Today. The show was announced earlier in March which can now be witnessed on USA Today apps and YouTube with a special Virtual Reality headset named as Alphabet Inc’s Google Cardboard.
Niko Chauls who is the director of applied technologies for the USA Today Network told in an interview that each of the episodes will last for just five to seven minutes and will mostly talk about the different genres like inspirational and adventure stories. Virtual reality which is the panoramic technology that has their roots in gaming is still in its infancy stage is yet to go mainstream.
Gannett wanted to be a pioneer in VR platform and is all set for the standard for advertisements in the emerging and immersive technology as told by Chauls said. In order to tap the potential revenue streams, Gannett are betting on virtual reality as a part of an expansion which is way beyond the declining of the print business. The company is already testing the new digital content and advertisement formats while making their acquisitions coming in the newspaper business so as to expand its footprint.
The show can also be accessed through the USA Today application and the USA Today Network’s Virtual reality Stories app and on the “VRtually There” in a form of a YouTube channel. Those who do not have Virtual Reality headsets can also watch the show on their mobile devices and computer desktops that will display videos in a form of 360-degree view.
