Custom Virtual Reality Application Development for Television Broadcaster

Virtual Reality Experience Developed for DSTV South Africa

We developed a high-end virtual reality experience for DSTV South Africa, the largest pay TV service in Africa. The goal was to showcase the DSTV BoxOffice experience in an immersive way at events, allowing users to understand what it feels like to access and use BoxOffice content in everyday life.

Instead of building physical environments at event stands using furniture, televisions, and DSTV equipment, the entire experience was recreated in virtual reality.

A key part of the brief was to demonstrate the five different devices on which users can watch DSTV, as well as the different environments where DSTV content can be accessed.

“We would like to invite you to our offices for a demonstration of the virtual reality applications that we have developed. Viewing virtual reality in 2D doesn’t tell the whole story, especially high-end 6DOF virtual reality where you can walk inside virtual reality, touch objects, and experience it as if it is real!”

— Gerald Ferreira, Virtual Reality Pioneer and Developer

Virtual Reality Video

Below is a teaser video showcasing the DSTV BoxOffice virtual reality experience developed for DSTV South Africa. The application was built using the HTC VIVE virtual reality headset.

Virtual reality environment allowing users to experience DSTV BoxOffice content in an immersive setting.

The experience began in a large virtual environment where users could watch BoxOffice trailers or navigate to different scenarios representing how and where DSTV content can be accessed.

Custom-built virtual reality environments developed for the DSTV BoxOffice experience.

The Virtual Reality Brief

The project was designed around the concept that users could experience DSTV BoxOffice without physical props, instead using fully immersive virtual environments.

Key requirements included:

• Replacing physical event setups with a fully virtual reality experience.
• Integrating BoxOffice trailers provided by the client.
• Demonstrating five devices used to watch DSTV:
  • Laptop
  • Tablet
  • Smartphone
  • Television
  • Desktop computer

We also created five different environments showing where DSTV can be watched:

• Public transport (a moving bus in a city environment)
• Office environment
• Hotel room
• Home living room
• Bathroom environment (with a light humorous element showing accessibility anywhere)

Unity development environment showing one of the immersive DSTV BoxOffice scenes.

Virtual reality living room scene demonstrating DSTV BoxOffice playback across different environments.

Contact for Virtual Reality Development

If you are looking for a highly experienced virtual reality application developer or immersive technology partner, feel free to get in touch to discuss your project requirements.

You can contact Gerald Ferreira at +27 72 234 7513 for more information.