The WB Network

The WB Television Network has become one of the hottest television networks with teens and young adults and continues to develop fresh ways to extend their fan base. The WB contacted Virage to pilot an initiative to bring audience participation to their one-hour comedy series, Popular, which debuted in Fall 1999.

By combining the engaging immediacy of television with the interactivity of the Internet, Virage and the WB created a powerful, cross-medium experience. Using Virage application services, the WB created the 'Popular Purge' event on their website, allowing viewers to vote on which characters should get 'purged' from the season finale. Virage transformed the show's first 18 episodes into web-ready streaming video. The content was then integrated into an online promotion that allowed fans to search and review previously televised highlights by topic, character, date and episode. Website visitors could also state their opinions as to who should get eliminated from the show at season's end. The most humorous comments were integrated into the broadcast of the show, bringing full circle the television and web distribution channels. Using Virage to publish on-demand clips of the shows highlighted with links to interactive discussion, The WB were able to engage audience participation, strengthen their fan base and draw new fans to the show.

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