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London, April 3 2008: Social networking site Bebo announced today breakthrough viewing figures for Sofia's Diary, its new interactive online soap opera aimed at teenagers and twenty-somethings. Since its debut on Friday 14th March, Sofia's Diary has been viewed by an impressive five million fans who have logged on daily to follow the adventures of Sofia and her friends as she adjusts to her new life in London.
The series started solidly with the first episode attracting 305,000 views during the first 24 hours live on Bebo, rising to 1,300,000 hits for the first four days online. Viewing figures consistently rose culminating in 2,491,994 hits for the first week online. With a further 2,557,194 fans logging on during the second week this brings the total Sofia's Diary views in the first two weeks online to just over five million.
Setting the precedent for online original programming, Bebo continues to go from strength-to-strength with Sofia's Diary. Revolutionising the way we consume television daily, Sofia's Diary encourages its fans to interact with the show by giving them the unique chance of controlling the storylines. Each week viewers literally decide which way Sofia should turn regarding an important decision in her life, with their vote determining the outcome.
Breaking yet more new ground, Sofia's Diary has also launched a mobile service for fans - the first FREE service of its kind in the UK. Fans of the series can stay in touch with Sofia by receiving daily updates from her during the day to let them know what's happening in her world. The service is free to all users in the UK regardless of network and can be activated by texting SOFIA to 60505.
Fans also have the chance to add their comments and opinions on Sofia's world in the individual Bebo character profile pages. So far, an average of over 1000 comments per day are left by core fans who log-on to give their advice and tips to Sofia and her friends as the drama enfolds week-by-week.
Each week day Sofia and her friends update their video diaries with 2-3 minute installments at www.bebo.com/sofiasdiary as well as their own Bebo profiles, with the audience following the story and engaging directly with each character for a truly interactive online experience.
Sarah Gavin, Bebo's Global Communications Director said: "We are absolutely thrilled to reach the five million mark during the all important launch weeks of Sofia's Diary. The unique interactive element of the series encourages viewers to return daily to see if their individual vote has changed the next episode's outcome, giving fans a complete 360o personal experience. Bebo is fast becoming the place for outstanding and original content."
Sofia's Diary follows 17-year-old Sofia Taylor (Rachel Hyde-Harvey; The Bill, Holby City), charting her ups and downs as she adjusts to a new life living with her dad, step mum and baby step-brother after being sent to London by her mum after accidentally blowing up the school chemistry lab! Sofia is feisty and witty with a fast, smart answer for (almost) every situation she gets herself into at school, at work and beyond - things are never dull!
Based on an international format owned by Sony Pictures Television International, Sofia's Diary is produced by Irish producers Campbell Ryan Film Productions for Bebo and has been shot on location across London. The cross-media series is funded through advertising, with a range of sponsors integrating their products seamlessly into the series. Beginning on Bebo, Sofia's Diary is set to become a multiplatform brand, stretching across TV, print, radio, podcasts and more.
Nuno Bernardo, Sofia's Diary creator said: "It's fantastic news that so many viewers are logging on daily to follow Sofia's adventures. These impressive figures reinforce the interactive element of the show proving that core fans come back time and time again for their daily fix of Sofia's Diary. We are so proud to he involved in such a dynamic and ground-breaking format."
Conceived by Nuno Bernardo, Sofia's Diary was originally launched in Portugal in 2003 as an experimental web and mobile service. The original programme now has 200,000 visitors per month online, over 19,000 mobile subscribers and has run four series on Portuguese state broadcaster, RTP2. The series has since been adapted for audiences in the United States, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Turkey, Vietnam and now the UK.
SOFIA'S DIARY ON BEBO RAISES THE BAR FOR ORIGINAL INTERNET PROGRAMMING
April 3, 2008
FIVE MILLION VIEWIERS LOG ON FOR FIRST TWO WEEKS ONLINELondon, April 3 2008: Social networking site Bebo announced today breakthrough viewing figures for Sofia's Diary, its new interactive online soap opera aimed at teenagers and twenty-somethings. Since its debut on Friday 14th March, Sofia's Diary has been viewed by an impressive five million fans who have logged on daily to follow the adventures of Sofia and her friends as she adjusts to her new life in London.
The series started solidly with the first episode attracting 305,000 views during the first 24 hours live on Bebo, rising to 1,300,000 hits for the first four days online. Viewing figures consistently rose culminating in 2,491,994 hits for the first week online. With a further 2,557,194 fans logging on during the second week this brings the total Sofia's Diary views in the first two weeks online to just over five million.
Setting the precedent for online original programming, Bebo continues to go from strength-to-strength with Sofia's Diary. Revolutionising the way we consume television daily, Sofia's Diary encourages its fans to interact with the show by giving them the unique chance of controlling the storylines. Each week viewers literally decide which way Sofia should turn regarding an important decision in her life, with their vote determining the outcome.
Breaking yet more new ground, Sofia's Diary has also launched a mobile service for fans - the first FREE service of its kind in the UK. Fans of the series can stay in touch with Sofia by receiving daily updates from her during the day to let them know what's happening in her world. The service is free to all users in the UK regardless of network and can be activated by texting SOFIA to 60505.
Fans also have the chance to add their comments and opinions on Sofia's world in the individual Bebo character profile pages. So far, an average of over 1000 comments per day are left by core fans who log-on to give their advice and tips to Sofia and her friends as the drama enfolds week-by-week.
Each week day Sofia and her friends update their video diaries with 2-3 minute installments at www.bebo.com/sofiasdiary as well as their own Bebo profiles, with the audience following the story and engaging directly with each character for a truly interactive online experience.
Sarah Gavin, Bebo's Global Communications Director said: "We are absolutely thrilled to reach the five million mark during the all important launch weeks of Sofia's Diary. The unique interactive element of the series encourages viewers to return daily to see if their individual vote has changed the next episode's outcome, giving fans a complete 360o personal experience. Bebo is fast becoming the place for outstanding and original content."
Sofia's Diary follows 17-year-old Sofia Taylor (Rachel Hyde-Harvey; The Bill, Holby City), charting her ups and downs as she adjusts to a new life living with her dad, step mum and baby step-brother after being sent to London by her mum after accidentally blowing up the school chemistry lab! Sofia is feisty and witty with a fast, smart answer for (almost) every situation she gets herself into at school, at work and beyond - things are never dull!
Based on an international format owned by Sony Pictures Television International, Sofia's Diary is produced by Irish producers Campbell Ryan Film Productions for Bebo and has been shot on location across London. The cross-media series is funded through advertising, with a range of sponsors integrating their products seamlessly into the series. Beginning on Bebo, Sofia's Diary is set to become a multiplatform brand, stretching across TV, print, radio, podcasts and more.
Nuno Bernardo, Sofia's Diary creator said: "It's fantastic news that so many viewers are logging on daily to follow Sofia's adventures. These impressive figures reinforce the interactive element of the show proving that core fans come back time and time again for their daily fix of Sofia's Diary. We are so proud to he involved in such a dynamic and ground-breaking format."
Conceived by Nuno Bernardo, Sofia's Diary was originally launched in Portugal in 2003 as an experimental web and mobile service. The original programme now has 200,000 visitors per month online, over 19,000 mobile subscribers and has run four series on Portuguese state broadcaster, RTP2. The series has since been adapted for audiences in the United States, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Turkey, Vietnam and now the UK.
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