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DAILY NEWS
Apr 28, 2008 6:21 AM
CBC TV and Radio Shows Go Interactive
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Social media capabilities, including
audience voting contests, interactive show commentary, forums, photo-sharing and more are being used to draw audiences into a new level of engagement with CBC TV and radio programming.
Since launching a suite of interactive tools known as Pluck SiteLife, CBC has seen a significant increase in audience interactivity on its site, CBC and Pluck Corporation reprot.
"As Canada's public broadcaster it's critical to our success that Canadians are actively engaged in our programs and services and are participating in the creation of our content," described Steve Billinger, Executive Director of Digital programming & Business development of CBC. "Since enabling CBC.ca with Pluck social media capabilities, viewer participation and discussion and engagement with our content have skyrocketed."
One of the first shows to launch social media capabilities was the reality series "Dragons' Den," for which viewers engaged in commentary and discussions around the show's entrepreneurs vying for a share of three million dollars in investment funding. The added social media functionality has proven popular -- helping to nearly double page views for the program's web site. The show site also hosts a "Pitch Your Idea" forum where community members and fans can submit their own inventions and have other members comment on them bringing the experience of the program online.
"We've shown that by adding social media to the TV and radio programming experience, networks can attract and foster stronger relationships with viewers," said Dave Panos, CEO of Pluck. "CBC is a great example of how networks can achieve an expanded level of engagement with viewers, as its viewers are readily embracing the opportunity to interact with a show's brand and content online."
A wide variety of CBC programs have already launched social media tools tied to programming, including top TV hits "Coronation Street" and "CBC's Hockey Night in Canada."
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. With 28 services offered on Radio, Television, the Internet, satellite radio, digital audio, as well as through its record and music distribution service and wireless WAP and SMS messaging services.
Pluck Corporation social media solutions empower leading media companies, brand marketers, and retailers to integrate open content, community and social networking into their web properties driving audience traffic and revenue. Clients include CBC, Circuit City, Discovery Communications, The Economist, FOX News, Gannett, Scotts, and The Washington Post. Awards include a Red Herring 100 and AlwaysOn Media 100. Pluck is based in Austin, Texas and operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Demand Media.
