Verizon and 'American Idol' creator become 5G wannabes

By
last updated

Simon Fuller, the man who managed the Spice Girls, and went on to create the ‘Idol’ TV franchise, has partnered with Verizon to develop new use cases for 5G in entertainment.

Simon Fuller.
(Image credit: Verizon.)

There are few people that can match the impact Simon Fuller has had on the entertainment industry in the last 25 years. From his early management of the Spice Girls in the mid-90s, to his creation of the ‘Idol’ TV franchise (‘Pop’ and ‘American’), Fuller has had one success after another, with Billboard Magazine certifying him as the UK’s most successful music manager of all time in 2008.

So it should come as no surprise that when Verizon 5G was looking for an entertainment partner to help it develop new 5G use cases within entertainment, they turned to the man that gave the world ‘Girl Power’.

“Simon’s track record in creating game-changing moments in popular culture speaks for itself and this first project is the tip of the iceberg."

Erin McPherson, Verizon.

“Simon’s track record in creating game-changing moments in popular culture speaks for itself and this first project is the tip of the iceberg,” said Erin McPherson, head of consumer content and programming at Verizon.  “We can’t wait to show how the massive bandwidth, super-fast speeds and ultra-low latency of Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband can forever change this new generation of entertainment.”

Successful track record

Fuller has a successful track record in harnessing technology to improve the experience for his viewers. In 2002, Fuller’s ‘American Idol’ was the first network TV show to encourage audiences to vote for their favourite acts by sending a text.

The first project the two companies will produce is expected to be a short-form VR experience, designed by Fuller and his team at  XIX Entertainment, using custom, industry-leading 360 Stereoscopic 3D cameras.

“By leveraging 5G Ultra Wideband and XR capabilities, we’re able to create immersive stories that relay emotional depth and bring the wider possibility of what 5G means for entertainment into view,” said Erin McPherson, Head of Consumer Content and Programming at Verizon.

Powerful creative impact

Verizon will work with Simon and his XIX team to conceptualize and create a sequence of new entertainment experiences powered by Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband, including augmented, mixed, and virtual reality.

"Our partnership with Verizon allows us to explore and define a whole new approach to creativity in this immersive world.”

Simon Fuller.

“I am a huge believer in the powerful creative impact Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband will bring to the entertainment industry, suddenly what previously could only be imagined, is now a reality,” said Fuller. “The quantity of information and quality of the imagery that can now be shared in near real time, enabling interaction with friends and streamed content instantaneously, is a complete game changer. 

“This will transform the way people connect with each other and experience entertainment. Our partnership with Verizon allows us to explore and define a whole new approach to creativity in this immersive world.”

Dan Oliver
Dan Oliver

Dan is a British journalist with 20 years of experience in the design and tech sectors, producing content for the likes of Microsoft, Adobe, Dell and The Sunday Times. In 2012 he helped launch the world's number one design blog, Creative Bloq. Dan is now editor-in-chief at 5Gradar, where he oversees news, insight and reviews, providing an invaluable resource for anyone looking to stay up-to-date with the key issues facing 5G.