Britain from Above was a landmark 360 degree project for the BBC, winning the International Digital Emmy for best nonfiction in 2009.
The multiple series project and website told the stories of our country, its landscape and society through incredible aerial photography.
It was a cross platform project from its inception.
From scripting, to filming, to post-production, Britain from Above was fully integrated, creating a seamless experience for the viewer.
The Britain From Above website opened up the programme content to web users in a non-linear, more personal fashion.
It presented videos, local stories via geo-tagged content, stories told through time and exclusive web media.
It allowed the audience to explore their own areas of interest, and engage in more serendipitous and surprising journeys.
The website was launched in the weeks before the programme aired.
Moving away from text heavy websites it focused on the core uniqueness of the programme: the incredible visual experience.
The homepage was comprised of a wall of images linking through to stories around the website which, when refreshed, presented a different series of images and potential journeys.
The website held 108 videos and 70 jaw-dropping images.
There were 30 original films created specifically for the website.
These included ‘Rewinds’ which allowed the audience to explore a location in Britain through time, from above, and witness the enormous changes from the air.
It also included Behind the Scenes video which showed the enormous undertaking of the Britain from Above production.
These included interviews with the crew, the presenter and the filming of key moments in the series.
The entire television programmes for BBC ONE, TWO and FOUR were cut down and re-edited so they could be consumed as individual pieces online.
These were navigable by theme (transport, people, technology and so on) as well as location.
Each video recommended related and different journeys and more avenues of exploration, and these were different to the linear television programme experience.
The aim was to allow the audience to really immerse themselves in stories around Britain, choosing their own pathways and routes but still engaging with the incredible experience of Britain from Above.
All the content was also found on an embedded Google Maps interface, and was also available as a downloadable Google Earth layer, allowing geo-specific navigation and visualisation of the series.
All the video content was also ‘set free’ so the audience could use it in their own ways, embedding it on their own websites and pages around the world.
The interactive apects of Britain from Above have garnered much critical acclaim and been presented at C21’s FutureMedia 2008, Broadband Video Expo 2009 and at MIPCOM’s 2008 Mobile and Internet Screenings.
Britain From Above Website