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London/San Francisco, October 31, 2007: Global social networking site Bebo, today announced the launch of exciting new online series The Gap Year with leading reality television producer Endemol UK. The groundbreaking interactive series will follow six Bebo users on an unforgettable globe-trotting journey to be documented for the 39 million strong Bebo community to enjoy!
Bebo and Endemol UK are joining forces to pluck contestants for The Gap Year directly from the Bebo community, looking for three guys and three girls to represent the UK, Ireland, America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. An interactive audition process will be unveiled on Bebo with a casting call in December 2007, where users will nominate themselves by submitting a video postcard about their 'dream' Gap Year. The video auditions will be shared on Bebo, with the online community able to vote for its favourite hopefuls - those whose travels they'd like to share vicariously, whose reality will become theirs too.
To mirror Bebo's global reach, The Gap Year contestants will travel the world with an itinerary taking in far flung destinations including Iceland, Namibia, Thailand, and Russia. The Gap Year voyagers will also likely venture to high profile events like Rio Carnival, Brazil; Chinese New Year, China; Zen Week, Sri Lanka; Pagan Festivals, UK and the Full Moon Party Season, Thailand. Over the course of their travels, each contestant will face an array of challenges and surprises as they experience new cultures, meet new people, savour exotic food, experience cultural events, outdoor activities and entertainment and even meet local celebrities.
During their adventures, The Gap Year contestants will chart their travels on Bebo as they live their lives out online, posting video diaries, blogs and photos. They'll stay in touch with friends back home through the power of Bebo and collect foreign friends along the way as the worldwide online community comes together to follow The Gap Year. Bebo users will not only be able to tune into the series, but also view exclusive behind-the-scenes footage with out-takes and interviews only
available within the community. A half hour catch-up show will also be broadcast each week on the site.
Excitingly, The Gap Year will allow Beboers to engage with the six intrepid travellers directly to share travel tips, create their own travel encyclopedia, comment on The Gap Year blogs, and vote in weekly polls which will have a direct influence on how their journeys unravel.
"At Bebo we're about creating the most exciting and unique user experience across the globe, and the success of our online serial KateModern and soon-to-launch Sofia's Diary shows that Beboers are enthusiastic about truly engaging with media," said Joanna Shields, President at Bebo. "The Gap Year is the first truly interactive reality series, giving Beboers a unique layer of interactivity - the chance to literally steer the fate of the contestants' global journeys."
"We're looking for Bebo's most adventurous members," says Peter Cowley, MD of Digital Media, Endemol, U.K. "Whether applicants have travelled abroad before, or simply chatted about it online with Bebo friends, 'The Gap Year' promises to be the adventure of a lifetime."
The Gap Year will be filmed in 2008, and is scheduled to air exclusively on Bebo.com.
BEBO AND ENDEMOL LAUNCH INTERACTIVE ONLINE REALITY DRAMA "THE GAP YEAR"
October 31, 2007
Six Beboers pack their passports to travel the globe Bebo community to help decide their fate!London/San Francisco, October 31, 2007: Global social networking site Bebo, today announced the launch of exciting new online series The Gap Year with leading reality television producer Endemol UK. The groundbreaking interactive series will follow six Bebo users on an unforgettable globe-trotting journey to be documented for the 39 million strong Bebo community to enjoy!
Bebo and Endemol UK are joining forces to pluck contestants for The Gap Year directly from the Bebo community, looking for three guys and three girls to represent the UK, Ireland, America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. An interactive audition process will be unveiled on Bebo with a casting call in December 2007, where users will nominate themselves by submitting a video postcard about their 'dream' Gap Year. The video auditions will be shared on Bebo, with the online community able to vote for its favourite hopefuls - those whose travels they'd like to share vicariously, whose reality will become theirs too.
To mirror Bebo's global reach, The Gap Year contestants will travel the world with an itinerary taking in far flung destinations including Iceland, Namibia, Thailand, and Russia. The Gap Year voyagers will also likely venture to high profile events like Rio Carnival, Brazil; Chinese New Year, China; Zen Week, Sri Lanka; Pagan Festivals, UK and the Full Moon Party Season, Thailand. Over the course of their travels, each contestant will face an array of challenges and surprises as they experience new cultures, meet new people, savour exotic food, experience cultural events, outdoor activities and entertainment and even meet local celebrities.
During their adventures, The Gap Year contestants will chart their travels on Bebo as they live their lives out online, posting video diaries, blogs and photos. They'll stay in touch with friends back home through the power of Bebo and collect foreign friends along the way as the worldwide online community comes together to follow The Gap Year. Bebo users will not only be able to tune into the series, but also view exclusive behind-the-scenes footage with out-takes and interviews only
available within the community. A half hour catch-up show will also be broadcast each week on the site.
Excitingly, The Gap Year will allow Beboers to engage with the six intrepid travellers directly to share travel tips, create their own travel encyclopedia, comment on The Gap Year blogs, and vote in weekly polls which will have a direct influence on how their journeys unravel.
"At Bebo we're about creating the most exciting and unique user experience across the globe, and the success of our online serial KateModern and soon-to-launch Sofia's Diary shows that Beboers are enthusiastic about truly engaging with media," said Joanna Shields, President at Bebo. "The Gap Year is the first truly interactive reality series, giving Beboers a unique layer of interactivity - the chance to literally steer the fate of the contestants' global journeys."
"We're looking for Bebo's most adventurous members," says Peter Cowley, MD of Digital Media, Endemol, U.K. "Whether applicants have travelled abroad before, or simply chatted about it online with Bebo friends, 'The Gap Year' promises to be the adventure of a lifetime."
The Gap Year will be filmed in 2008, and is scheduled to air exclusively on Bebo.com.
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