Apple has recently announced the promotion of Zach Kahn, a former podcast and audiobooks PR manager, to lead the public relations for content on its upcoming spatial computing device, the Apple Vision Pro. The Vision Pro is expected to launch in early 2024 and will feature apps for Apple TV and Apple Music, among other services and entertainment options. Kahn will be responsible for handling PR for all content initiatives, including with Apple’s content partners, such as Disney, which has already expressed its enthusiasm for the platform.
The Apple Vision Pro is a spatial computing platform that combines augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies to create immersive and interactive experiences. The device consists of a pair of advanced, custom micro-OLED displays that deliver more pixels than a 4K TV to each eye, for stunning clarity. The device also features a high-fidelity audio system, a powerful processor, a long-lasting battery, and a sleek design.
The Vision Pro will run on a new operating system, called Vision OS, which will allow users to access a variety of apps, services, and content from Apple and third-party developers. Users will be able to watch movies and shows on Apple TV, listen to music and podcasts on Apple Music, play games, browse the web, and more. The device will also support spatial audio, hand tracking, eye tracking, and facial expressions, for a more realistic and natural interaction.
How will the Vision Pro change the content landscape?
The Vision Pro is expected to revolutionize the way people create and consume content, by offering a new level of immersion and engagement. The device will enable users to experience content in 3D, 360-degree, and holographic formats, and to interact with it in novel ways. For example, users will be able to watch a movie as if they were in the theater, or even inside the movie itself, and to interact with the characters and the environment. Users will also be able to create their own content, such as videos, photos, and art, using the device’s built-in cameras and sensors, and to share it with others.
One of the content partners that has already announced its support for the Vision Pro is Disney, which has a long-standing relationship with Apple. Disney CEO Bob Iger said at the WWDC 2023 that the Vision Pro is a “revolutionary” platform that will let the company create “deeply immersive” stories in ways that were “previously impossible”. Iger said that Disney+ will be available on Vision Pro on “Day One” and previewed some of the concepts that the company is working on for the device, such as a Star Wars experience, a Marvel adventure, and a Pixar animation.
Who is Zach Kahn and what is his role?
Zach Kahn is a veteran in the media and tech industry, with over a decade of experience in marketing and PR. He joined Apple in 2019 as the senior manager of podcast marketing, and later took over the PR for the audiobooks business as well. He helped Apple grow its podcast presence and launch its Podcasts Subscriptions service, which allows creators to offer premium content to their listeners. He also managed the PR for the company’s books business, which includes the Apple Books app and the Apple Books for Authors program.
In his new role, Kahn will head the communications for the Vision Pro’s apps, services, and entertainment, and will report to Andrea Schubert, who was hired in January 2022 to lead the PR for the Vision Pro device. Schubert previously worked at Meta (formerly Facebook), where she led the PR for the Reality Labs division, which includes the Quest VR headsets. Kahn and Schubert will work together to promote the Vision Pro as a game-changing platform for content creation and consumption, and to showcase the content offerings from Apple and its partners.
Kahn is based out of Los Angeles, where he will be closer to the entertainment industry and the content creators. He will also work with Olivia DeJesse, who has taken over the PR duties for Apple’s podcast group, and who also manages the media relations for the Fitness+ subscription service.
