• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, July 14, 2016

The Huffington Post is doubling down immersive video and virtual reality with wider distribution of its interactive and VR content, enabled through a partnership with Verizon Labs.


The immersive and VR programming will be available across HuffPo’s desktop and mobile Web presence and apps, as well as various channels from HuffPo owner AOL.

HuffPo is kicking off the cross-channel distribution of immersive and VR content, produced by the HuffPo RYOT team, with comprehensive coverage of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, including video, updates and breaking news.

The first VR broadcast is scheduled to debut on Monday, July 18 with interactive content from both the GOP convention in Cleveland and the Democratic convention in Philadelphia.

The publisher is also expanding its capabilities to include custom VR and immersive content for advertisers, although it’s not clear when these new services coming online. As part of this push RYOT, which joined HuffPo in April, will provide VR and immersive production services to Partner Studio by AOL.

HuffPo is just one of a number of media companies rolling out major VR programs.

Last month, NBC revealed it is planning to produce 85 hours of VR programming around the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games, available exclusively on Samsung devices, according to Variety, which first reported the news.

Meanwhile, The New York Times touted several virtual reality series that will debut in the fall, including one called “The Creators,” putting the spotlight on various artists at work, and another, “Secret Cities,” focused on travel and fashion, which is slated to coincide with Fashion Week.