Media Releases

Seven Network - Lost Interactive   Author: Seven Network | Apr 26, 2006, 15:41

ABC TELEVISION NETWORK, UNITED KINGDOM’S CHANNEL 4, AUSTRALIA’S CHANNEL SEVEN AND YAHOO!7 TO LAUNCH GLOBAL INTERACTIVE “LOST EXPERIENCE”

In a Unique Marketing Initiative, People Around the Globe Must Unite to Solve a Great Mystery, Based on the International Hit TV Show “Lost”

ABC in the United States, Channel 4 Television in the UK, Australia’s Channel Seven and Yahoo!7 today announced the “Lost Experience,” a revolutionary interactive experience based on the international hit television series, “Lost.” The “Lost Experience” incorporates over twenty broadcasters from five continents, making it the largest global interactive challenge based on a television series.

The “Lost Experience” will follow a parallel storyline not featured in the television broadcast and is designed so that both fans of the series and those unfamiliar with the show can participate. The experience provides insight to unlock some of the island’s secrets for those savvy enough to collect the clues, make the connections and find the answers. Clues will first appear May 2nd in the UK, May 3rd in the U.S. and May 4th in Australia. Although the “Lost Experience” is internet-based, participants should not assume that clues will be limited to the online world. Any and every platform has the potential to contain hidden secrets of the mystery. Given the different broadcast windows around the world, this challenge is specifically designed in a manner that is not dependent on information specific to either Season One or Season Two, allowing for the participation of those who have not yet seen either season of “Lost.”


“As part of the unique marketing initiative, the ‘Lost Experience’ gives the mystery, intrigue, twist and turns that ‘Lost’ provides as a television series,” said Mike Benson, senior vice president, Marketing, ABC Entertainment. “With ‘Lost’ being the global phenomenon that it is, our partnership with the United Kingdom’s Channel 4, Australia’s Channel Seven and Yahoo!7 adds worldwide challenges for participants that require ingenuity and tenacity on their part. It’s like a giant, mysterious jigsaw puzzle that will come to life for all the world to solve, whether you are a fan of the TV series or not.”

Tracy Blacher, head of New Media Marketing at Channel 4, said: “We wanted to find a way of allowing ‘Lost’ viewers to engage with Season Two in a genuinely innovative and creative way. We’re delighted to be working with ABC and Australia’s Seven Network to develop a truly groundbreaking experience that reflects the international nature of ‘Lost’s’ huge fan base.”

“We are very proud to be a part of this innovative global campaign for ‘Lost,’” said Tim Worner, director of Programming and Production for Channel Seven. “This is a real treat for ‘Lost’ viewers in Australia – this additional form of storytelling is part of the future of great TV drama and we are thrilled to be onboard. Seven aims to challenge convention in thinking about the future and this additional experience for ‘Lost’ viewers is right in line with how we feel -- it's exciting to be part of a team that is breaking new ground.”

About “Lost”
After Oceanic Air flight 815 tore apart in mid-air and crashed on a seemingly deserted Pacific island, its survivors were forced to find inner strength they never knew they had in order to survive. The band of friends, family, enemies and strangers have become reluctant heroes who must work together against the cruel weather and harsh terrain if they want to stay alive. Danger and mystery loom behind every corner on the island, and those they thought could be trusted may turn against them. Even heroes have secrets.

“Lost” stars Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Mr. Eko, Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Emilie de Ravin as Claire, Matthew Fox as Jack, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Daniel Dae Kim as Jin, Yunjin Kim as Sun, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Dominic Monaghan as Charlie, Terry O’Quinn as Locke, Harold Perrineau as Michael, Michelle Rodriguez as Ana Lucia and Cynthia Watros as Libby.


“Lost” was created by Jeffrey Lieber and J.J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof. Abrams, Lindelof, Bryan Burk, Jack Bender and Carlton Cuse serve as executive producers. “Lost,” which is filmed entirely on location in Hawaii, is from Touchstone Television.

“Lost” is the fastest-selling TV series in Buena Vista International Television’s (BVITV) history, having been licensed in over 210 territories worldwide. Across countries such as Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Singapore, Sweden, the UK and Russia, “Lost” has consistently been No. 1 in its timeslot. In the UK, “Lost” delivered Channel 4’s biggest-ever audience for a U.S. series launch, and on Seven Australia it was consistently one of the top two series on the network and held the second-biggest premiere in Australia’s television history. The series has been a Top 3 U.S. series on free TV channels in every international territory it has aired.

About ABC
ABC Entertainment offers quality, award-winning programming that includes many of the most widely viewed series, specials and movies. Primetime Entertainment on ABC crosses various programming genres with hit series like “Desperate Housewives,” “Lost,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” Extreme Home Makeover: Home Edition,” “Boston Legal,” “According to Jim,” “George Lopez,” “Freddie,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “Super Nanny” and “Wife Swap.” In Late-Night, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” celebrated its third anniversary in January 2006. ABC Entertainment is part of the ABC Television Network and is managed by Disney-ABC Television Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company.

About Channel Four Television
The Channel Four Television Corporation is a publicly-owned, not-for-profit broadcaster operating in the UK. Its main public service channel, Channel 4, is a free-to-air service funded entirely by advertising and sponsorship. Unlike the BBC, we do not receive license fee funds. Channel 4 also operates a number of other services, including the free-to-air digital TV channels E4 and More4, the subscription service FilmFour (which will be relaunched as a free-to-air channel in summer 2006), and an ever-growing range of online activities at channel4.com, including the broadband service FourDocs. The FilmFour production division produces and co-produces feature films for the UK and global markets.



About Channel Seven
Channel Seven is recognised as one of Australia’s leading media companies. Our television programming reaches more than nine in ten Australians every week – with such hit local productions as “Dancing with the Stars” and drama series “Home and Away” and “All Saints,” as well as blockbuster U.S. series “Lost,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Commander In Chief.” Our magazines business publishes one in four magazines read by Australians. We publish two of the three most widely-read magazines in Australia. Seven is recognized as the leader in news and public affairs, Australian-produced drama and sports programming – our reputation being built on a commitment to produce and deliver programming relevant to Australians. Seven’s planning for the future is built on the knowledge that television will continue to dominate communications – as the gateway for audiences through “traditional” television programming and the integration of internet and other online and broadband viewing options through Seven’s new partnership with Yahoo! Inc to create Yahoo!7 in Australia.

Yahoo!7
Yahoo!7 is one of the most comprehensive and engaging online destinations for Australian consumers and advertisers. Formed as a 50-50 partnership between the Seven Network Limited (ASX: SEV) and Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO), Yahoo!7 brings together the successful Australian internet business, Yahoo! Australia & NZ, and the online assets and television and magazine content of the Seven Network, one of Australia’s leading media companies. The company also combines the strengths of Yahoo! search and communications capabilities and its global internet network, with Seven’s rich media and entertainment content and marketing capabilities.

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