NBC, JETSET STUDIOS AND TELEFON PROJEKT DIAL UP VIEWERS WITH VIRTUAL CALL CENTER FOR NEW NBC COMEDY SERIES 'OUTSOURCED'
Interactive Promotional Campaign Uses Breakthrough Technology to Simulate Real-Time Video Chat
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - September 9, 2010 - NBC, Jetset Studios and Telefon Projekt jointly have launched a cutting-edge virtual call center experience to promote "Outsourced," the network's new workplace comedy series about catalog-based company Mid America Novelties, whose call center has suddenly been outsourced to India. The application, available at www.midamericanovelties.com, allows web users to enter their phone number and immediately receive a telephone call from the Mid America Novelties call center. "Outsourced" premieres on NBC on Thursday, September 23 (9:30-10 p.m. ET).
Innovative "simulated video chat" technology will synch the video being played on users' computers with the audio being played over their phones, allowing for a real-time, interactive conversation with show's own Rajiv (Rizwan Manji), Gupta (Parvesh Cheena) and Todd (Ben Rappaport) on the computer screen.
Additionally, every user will receive a free "virtual good" that can be shared with friends via Facebook.
"We are always looking for innovative ways to engage and interact with viewers, and the virtual call center creates an opportunity to do that," said Adam Stotsky, president of marketing, NBC Entertainment. "It also provides a unique way for us to introduce the characters and the show and then reward users with a virtual gift they can pass to friends as an invitation to share in the experience."
The "Outsourced" application was conceived by Jetset Studios, an award-winning transmedia marketing agency and original content production house.
Jetset, in collaboration with Telefon Projekt, designed, wrote, and produced the original content featured in the experience. Telefon Projekt, whose technology lets content producers create conversations between real people and virtual characters, developed 'simulated video chat' in partnership with Jetset.
"We are thrilled to introduce this next generation interactive experience to promote NBC's 'Outsourced'," said Russell Scott, CEO of Jetset Studios.
Patrick Young, Jetset Studios' president, agrees: "With its outrageous comedy, 'Outsourced' is the perfect complement to this cutting edge technology."
"Conversation - whether spoken or text exchanges - is the most natural interface ever devised," said Tony Sheeder, co-founder of Telefon Projekt. "Everyone has vast experience talking to other people, and we realized that using conversation to interact with stories allows us to create very powerful, very intimate experiences that blur the line between fiction and reality.
The application lives on MidAmericaNovelties.com, "Outsourced's" "in-universe" site on NBC.com. For fans interested in the latest products from Mid America Novelties -- from the bacon wallet to the beer guzzler hat -- the site offers big laughs and a hilarious take on the show.
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For more information, visit http://www.nbc.com/outsourced/.
NBC Entertainment develops and schedules programming for the network's primetime, late-night, and daytime schedules. NBC's quality programs and balanced lineup have earned the network critical acclaim, numerous awards, and ratings success. The network has earned more Emmy Awards than any network in television history.
NBC's roster of popular scripted series includes critically acclaimed comedies like Emmy winners "The Office," starring Steve Carell, and "30 Rock," starring Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey. Veteran, award-winning dramas on NBC include the "Law & Order" brand, and "Chuck." Unscripted series for NBC include the hits "The Biggest Loser," "The Celebrity Apprentice" and "America's Got Talent."
NBC is #1 in late night's key ratings races with "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," "Last Call with Carson Daly" and "Saturday Night Live." NBC Daytime's "Days of our Lives" consistently finishes among daytime's top programs in the valuable women 18-34 category. Saturday mornings the network broadcasts Qubo on NBC, a three-hour block that features fun, entertaining, and educational programming for kids, including the award-winning, 3-D animated series "Veggie Tales."
For more information visit www.nbc.com.
About Jetset Studios
Jetset Studios is an award winning transmedia marketing agency and original content production house. Fueled by a near-obsessive love of pop culture and wholeheartedly dedicated to all things Geek, Jetset Studios makes magic on any platform for the most recognizable brands.
The agency was founded in 2001 by Russell Scott and Patrick Young, who have developed original scripted content and transmedia experiences in support of dozens of feature films, including Tropic Thunder, The Hangover and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and hit television shows like The Closer. They also win lots of awards and are fun at parties. For more information, visit http://www.jetsetstudios.com/, @jetsetstudios, http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Jetset-Studios/12598023689?ref=ts
About Telefon Projekt
Telefon Projekt is an entertainment and technology company whose proprietary platform lets publishers build experiences in which conversations - actual spoken dialog or text input -- between real people and fictional or virtual characters impact the direction of a narrative.
The conversations can be integrated with any content that can be delivered over the internet, allowing what a person says to control what's seen onscreen. For more information, visit www.telefonprojekt.com.
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