The BBC has invested £500,000 in a virtual events start-up that creates immersive events for broadcasters.
UK based Condensation The company claims to be the first in the world to offer a live stream of 3D video in a virtual space, and the startup recently quietly began offering the experience to BBC viewers.
Last month, Condense hosted the BBC’s first live virtual concert, featuring singer Sam Tompkins. Entering the digital stage Towards a turning point.
The BBC today revealed the next move in the partnership, at its heart is a virtual venue called New Music Portal, which hosts interactive concerts that fans can take part in from the comfort of their own home.
TNW Conference, June 20-21 – 90% of tickets sold out
All networking opportunities are over: roundtables, masterclasses, tech tours, 1:1s… This is your last chance to book before they’re gone!
To create these experiences, condensed camera arrays are used across the BBC’s iconic Maida Vale StudiosAn algorithm combines all the feeds into one 3D video, which is then compressed and streamed to the virtual venue.
Viewers enter the environment through a web browser on their phone or laptop, and once there, their avatar is able to explore the virtual world.
You can watch the concert from every angle, chat with other fans, share emotes, dance, and even interact with the artists as they perform, watching from the screens around the venue.
The BBC has compared New Music Portal to Fortnite and Roblox, as has Condense CEO and co-founder Nick Fellingham, who described the games as “the new social network.”
“Social networking is how young people interact, connect and share experiences online in real time,” he told TNW.
By working with Condense, the BBC hopes to create new versions of these experiences – the broadcaster already produces regular immersive programmes for its BBC Radio 1 programmes. New Music ShowThis summer, performances are scheduled from “a number of exciting artists.”
BBC believes virtual worlds are the future
The investment in Condensed gives the BBC the opportunity to lead a new wave of virtual experiences, and the BBC said the funding will ensure the broadcaster is “well positioned to benefit” as Condensed grows.
Young people are a key target audience for this collaboration, and the BBC hopes Condense will engage these audiences and shape the future of content production, with dedicated teams exploring opportunities in areas such as sports, education and news.
Bellingham is excited about the plans, too: “Traditionally broadcasting has been a passive experience, but now users can actually be part of the experience,” he said.
Condense’s next target is another virtual arena, with Bellingham revealing that the startup will soon be entering Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro.
He also shared some bold predictions for the market. “We think live-streamed 3D video has the potential to be the killer app for spatial computing.”
Condense’s Nick Fellingham will be speaking at the TNW conference in Amsterdam from 20th to 21st June. if If you’d like to experience the event (and say hello to our editorial team), we have something special in store for our loyal readers: use code TNWXMEDIA at checkout to get 30% off. Business Pass, Investor Pass or the startup package (Bootstrap & Expanding).
