31 August 2006
Survivor South Africa: Panama hits local TV screens this week, and pay television channel M-Net has created its "biggest ever website" to accompany the first South African version of the hit reality franchise, giving fans a whole new way of interacting with the show.
Designed to showcase the capabilities of broadband, www.mnet.co.za/survivor will feature exclusive video content, rich media ad formats and a Survivor fantasy league that will allow viewers to play along with the game.
"There is only so much you can fit into a one-hour television show," M-Net new media head Jason Probert said in a statement. "But there is so much other footage that we know viewers will want to see that we have created a broadband site that will feature almost 60 minute's worth of unseen video each week."
The most innovative aspect of the website, however, is iBurst Fantasy Survivor, which lets viewers play along with the show from the comfort of their homes by picking a team of their favourite Survivors and "immersing themselves in the triumphs and tragedies each one faces."
Playing Fantasy Survivor also puts players in line for giant giveaways, including four Hyundai cars, Tissot watches and wireless broadband connectivity from iBurst.
Viewers will also be able to enter the competition through interactive TV, print and SMS.
"Survivor South Africa will be South Africa's first cross-platform entertainment experience," Probert said. "It's not just a television show," Probert added: "Fans will be able to experience the magic on their phones and PCs as well.
Other elements of the site include a jam-packed video gallery featuring scenes not seen in the show, exclusive interviews with the Survivors before, during and after the game, and daily and weekly insights on specialist blogs from professional psychologists, astrologists, the crew, the media and presenter Mark Bayly.
"By teaming up with M-Web Business we can offer our viewers a total cross-platform entertainment experience while building a relationship with them, rather than just a reality television show," Probert said. "It offers our audience great additional value."
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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