Survivor SA a showcase for MWEB Business BSD team

This past weekend, the biggest show to hit South African screens began broadcasting. Survivor South Africa, M-Net`s flagship local reality television series set in Panama`s Pearl Islands, promises to have viewers on the edge of their seats as they watch South African competitors outwit, outplay and outlast each other for R1 million. And just as spectacular as the series itself is the Web site that will accompany it.

Featuring state-of-the-art technological innovations developed by MWEB Business`s Business Solutions Development (BSD) and M-Net`s New Media divisions, the site offers eager fans another way to engage with the show.

The site has been designed to showcase the capabilities of broadband and includes exclusive video content not seen on television, rich media ad formats and an online Survivor fantasy league that allows viewers to play along with the TV show. Viewers are also able to enter the competition through interactive TV, print and SMS.

"M-Net is at the cutting edge of creativity and innovation, taking advantage of the convergence of television with mobile and the Internet, thereby providing viewers with the best viewing experience," says Jason Probert, Head of New Media at M-Net. "By teaming up with MWEB 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. It offers our audience great additional value."

What most viewers are interested in are the specialist blogs, from presenter Mark Bayly to psychologists who explore the emotional impact of Survivor on participants. With an online editor based in Panama, the blogs promise to offer on-the-spot action as well as commentary. The blog engine was designed entirely by the MWEB Business BSD team, specifically for the show.

Another upcoming show on M-Net, Temptation, touted as the next Who Wants to be a Millionaire, required a cross-platform call to entry quiz. MWEB Business and M-Net New Media developed the quiz engine which could be played via interactive TV and the Internet. Prospective contestants had to crack the leaderboard to be eligible for an audition for the show.

For the highly successful Big Brother Nigeria, MWEB Business and M-Net New Media designed and maintained the Web site which received over seven million unique page impressions and 700 000 unique browser visits, and provided 24x7 broadband video streaming. The divisions also facilitated the voting for the show through an SMS line which received over 300 000 text messages during the three-month period.

"Our Business Solutions Development division has built a reputation of excellence having cut its teeth on some of the most popular shows on television. We know that deadlines are non-negotiable in the television industry and we are proud to say we have always met ours," says Graeme Cumming, General Manager of MWEB Business`s BSD division.

MWEB Business`s BSD division works with the client from brief through conceptualisation, design, building and publishing, to ensure that the project meets the specific needs and expectations identified. Additional clients include Vodacom, Pick `n Pay, the National Lottery, Makro and Incredible Connection.

The division offers its customers an onsite team of designers, Flash and Web developers and project managers. Other solution offerings include e-commerce, Web development, content management and internal consolidation services.