Fandango Hopes To Bring Virtual Reality To Movie Theaters With New Venture

Online movie ticket retailer Fandango, owned by Comcast Corp.'s NBCUniversal said on Monday that it plans to launch a research and development segment charged with innovation in the moviegoing experience. The new unit, called FandangoLabs, has enlisted leaders in the film and technology industries to serve on its advisory board, including New York-based design firm IDEO's media and technology portfolio director Jennifer Panaski, Walt Disney Co.'s executive vice president of theatrical distribution Dave Hollis and founder and Chief Operating Officer of Blumhouse productions Jason Blum. Along with representation on the board, IDEO will serve as FandangoLabs' innovation partner. The company hopes to utilize new technologies to explore the potential in augmented and virtual reality, social commerce and interactive video, according to a news release. Fandango, which sells tickets online to 27,000 screens nationwide, hopes to release its first FandangoLab products in 2016.