NBC DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES SECOND SEASON OF CUTTING-EDGE INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Leading Digital Entertainment "Heroes 360" Expands and The First Fully Immersive Digital Comedy Entertainment - "The Office 360" Launches In Fall
New Engaging and Interactive Digital Content For All NBC Entertainment Programming, Both New and Returning Shows
NEW YORK - May 14, 2007 - NBC Digital Entertainment today announced the second season of its pioneering interactive entertainment. Continuing to set the standard for broadcast network digital entertainment, this fall, NBC Digital Entertainment will introduce the follow up to the cutting-edge "360" realization of "Heroes," with the first fully-immersive digital comedy experience - "The Office 360." In addition, all new NBC Entertainment programming will launch with extensive digital features, all returning shows will considerably expand their digital offerings and the web-exclusive series, "Coastal Dreams" will launch in the fall. The announcements were made by Jeff Gaspin, President NBC Universal Cable and Digital Content.
"We are fortunate to be working with some incredibly talented executive producers who share a common goal with us - to give the fans the best possible entertainment experience that continues after the broadcast ends," said Gaspin. "Through these innovative collaborations, we are allowing our users to interact with their favorite shows on a deeper level, and are providing full immersion in our content."
Beginning this fall, viewers will be invited to experience "The Office" in a whole new way. There will be a multitude of interactive features, one of which will encourage users to "work for" Dunder-Mifflin. Recruits will be asked to create their own branches and complete weekly corporate tasks. Local "branches" which successfully complete tasks may be integrated into an on air episode of the show. Additional content will be made available on many platforms, including interaction with unique mobile content, a WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) site and significantly increased original content on NBC.com.
Season Two of the ground-breaking "Heroes 360" will build upon this season's successful rollout of original graphic novel chapters and character back-stories, the Primatech Paper web and WAP sites, HRG's files, Suresh's research, Linderman's Casino site and Private Archives and the Yamagato Fellowship site. The next chapter of "Heroes 360" will continue to expand the online "Heroes" universe as current characters evolve and new characters arrive. Fans will uncover new sites and new communications that enlist their help in the ongoing battle of good versus evil.
In addition to the new and unique content, this fall NBC.com will host "virtual tours" of every show set, which will let users explore their favorite sets and see how production puts it all together to create a distinct environment. Also, NBC.com will let users walk in the shoes of a high-powered talent agent with its new NBC Fantasy Talent Scout. Fans can register to gain access to three top "casting agencies" to create their own dream team of NBC talent. When any of their stars perform a trademark phrase or action, the online "agent" earns commission in the form of points. Top "agents" are entered to win a weekly cash prize.
This fall, NBC.com is also introducing MyNBC which will allow users to create community, interact and engage their favorite content, all of which will create a much more robust and rewarding entertainment experience.
Next season, NBC.com will offer several digital extensions for each new show. Among them will be the following offerings:
"Lipstick Jungle" - NBC.com and iVillage will team up to bring Bonfire Magazine to life online, bringing the millions of women from iVillage and the millions of fans from NBC.com together on one mega-site. Each week, fans of the show will find a fully editorialized online publication, which will offer users fashion profiles, relationship advice, topical articles, quizzes and forums. Users will also get the "Bonfire Buzz" on the fictional world of the show before each episode airs.
"Bionic Woman" - Fans will be able to log on and see a weekly "anatomy of a scene" feature, which will go behind the scenes and show users how the biggest scenes of the week are filmed using camera tricks, special effects and other production secrets.
"Chuck" - Viewers will be able to see inside Chuck's "brain" which will host hotspots that reveal top-secret government information and bonus video.
"Journeyman" - Users will be able to track Dan's travel through time with an interactive online video timeline. There will also be scene comparisons which will let users in on how show producers recreate the authentic look of locations from earlier years.
"Life" - Fans will be able to further investigate Billy's conspiracy wall, hidden in his home. Users will be able to delve into the mysteries as Billy learns more about who put him behind bars.
In addition to extensions of on-air programming, NBC.com will also be debuting the web-exclusive new series "Coastal Dreams," a new, young soap opera with an attractive cast and all of the drama and excitement of daytime.
Every returning NBC Entertainment program has extensive and organic digital features to enhance the entertainment experience. Highlights of newly expanded content for the fall includes the following:
"30 Rock" - Kenneth the Page will give users a tour of NBC and "TGS" ("The Girly Show") in his own, special way. Frank will also be blogging from the writer's room and sharing his unique take on the show, life and anything else on his mind.
"Deal or No Deal" - Fans will catch up with their favorite winners and see how they spent their winnings through a web-exclusive series that follows up and tracks past contestants.
"Las Vegas" - Each week, users will be able to watch a "making of" Production Video Diary that will give them a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the making of their favorite show including everything from the racy costume department to the high-tech design of the set to the cast having fun with each other during rehearsals.
"ER" - Users will, for the first time ever, be able to see deleted scenes and get a first look at weekly preview scenes.
"Law & Order: SVU" - At-home detectives and fans of "SVU" will be able to preview the case before it's shown on the air and simultaneously follow the crime online.
"Friday Night Lights" - The "Friday Night Lights" cast and crew bring us the sights and sounds of small town Texas from their unique point of view.
"Medium" - In a television first, NBC.com will let fans pick storylines and help write an on-air episode.
"Biggest Loser" - This cycle will bring a weekly blog with season three winner Erik and exclusive vlog with new host Alison Sweeney.
"Days of Our Lives" - Fans will be able to get horoscopes of their favorite characters through a unique partnership with Astrology.com and weekly sneak peeks of what's in store for their favorite characters.
"Passions" - The popular "Passions" webisodes are back with their third installment, "Passions Harmony."
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