BBC Studios Partners with Reality+ to Take Doctor Who and Top Gear to The Sandbox

BBC Studios has partnered with web3 branding agency Reality+ to launch metaverse experiences in The Sandbox. Under the partnership, both companies will launch a BBC events space in The Sandbox where fans can interact with immersive content from BBC shows like Doctor Who and Top Gear.

This joint initiative comes after BBC recently filed NFT and VR trademark applications for Doctor Who. It also marks the first time BBC will have an official home in the metaverse, following brand activations on other virtual platforms. In March 2020, Doctor Who teamed up with Roblox for in-game content. 

Despite a waning interest in the metaverse, major brands and celebrities have continued venturing into the virtual world. On Wednesday, Paris Hilton collaborated with The Sandbox to launch an NFT avatar collection. With this new initiative, BBC Studios joins over 400 other entertainment brands that have entered The Sandbox to date, including renowned names such as Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, Gucci Vault, The Walking Dead, and Adidas.

“I’m delighted that BBC Studios is partnering with Reality+ and The Sandbox on this exciting venture. While the metaverse is still in its infancy, it may shape how we consume and experience entertainment in the future and I’m looking forward to seeing how fans interact with our brands in this space,” Nicki Sheard, President Brands & Licensing at BBC Studios, said in a statement.

He added that this project forms part of BBC Studios’ broader ambitious plans to grow its brands into new categories, with innovative technology and platforms like the metaverse being an integral part of its plans.

Sebastien Borget, COO and Co-Founder at The Sandbox, commented, “The BBC has a history of pioneering content that leverages the latest technology and putting it into mainstream households. We think this venture is an important step to bringing British culture and fans into virtual worlds.”

BBC Studios’ metaverse space in The Sandbox will launch later this year and further details will be revealed in due course.