or


[09/09/10 - 09:49 AM]
Nbc, Jetset Studios and Telefon Projekt Dial Up Viewers with Virtual Call Center for New NBC Comedy Series 'Outsourced'
The application allows web users to enter their phone number and immediately receive a telephone call from the Mid America Novelties call center.

[via press release from NBC]

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.

###

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.





  [september 2010]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· OUTSOURCED (NBC)





[05/25/12 - 03:22 PM]
Production for Season Two of "Grimm" Commences on May 30
Repeats of the series will air Mondays at 10:00/9:00c this summer as a build up to the show's return in August.

[05/25/12 - 02:26 PM]
Interview: "Mrs. Eastwood & Company" Star Dina Eastwood
E!'s latest reality entry airs Sundays at 10:00/9:00c after "Keeping Up with the Kardashians."

[05/25/12 - 01:51 PM]
Thursday's Cable Ratings: Heat Clincher Puts ESPN in Front
Plus: numbers for Animal Planet's "Swamp Wars," TLC's "On the Fly" and "Tattoo School."

[05/25/12 - 12:58 PM]
TBS's New Original Sitcom "Men at Work" Scores More than 2.6 Million Viewers And 1.6 Million Adults 18-49 in Thursday Night Debut
TBS spins the numbers for Thursday, May 24.

[05/25/12 - 11:43 AM]
Celebrate Father's Day as SOAPnet Presents "A Veronica Mars Marathon: Who's Your Daddy?" on Sunday, June 17 3PM - 7PM
The four-hour marathon revolves around whether or not Keith Mars is Veronica's biological father.

[05/25/12 - 10:29 AM]
Video: Trailers from CBS's Upfront Presentation
The full previews are now available for the Eye's new fall series.

[05/25/12 - 09:39 AM]
ABC Family Celebrates Father's Day With an All Day Marathon of Movies Dads Love Sunday, June 17 Starting at 7AM
Highlights include the basic cable premiere of "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time."

[05/25/12 - 09:33 AM]
Return to a Galaxy Far, Far Away as Spike TV Launches Into Hyperspace With the World Premiere of the Next Big "Star Wars(TM)" Game Franchise
A first look at this top secret project will be revealed on Thursday, May 31, as a part of the pre-E3 episode of Spike's hit video game show "GTTV."

[05/25/12 - 09:33 AM]
Dierks Bentley Delivers His New Hits and Adds His Own Bluegrass Touch to an Adele Smash When CMT.com Premieres "Unplugged" on Tuesday, May 29
The episode will also air as a half-hour special on Palladia (Saturday, June 2) and CMT (Monday, June 25).

[05/25/12 - 08:41 AM]
ABC's "Duets" Tops Fox's "Dance"/"Rookie Blue" Marks Most-Watched Telecast Since Aug '10
ABC spins the numbers for Thursday, May 24.

[05/25/12 - 08:37 AM]
Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: "So You Think You Can Dance" Opens Summer on Top
FOX's mainstay however is down 25% from last year's launch among adults 18-49.

[05/25/12 - 08:11 AM]
Wedding Season Replaces Football Season When "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Brides" Premieres Friday, June 2 on CMT
The one-hour special features Cassie Trammell, Sunni Cranfill and Trisha Trevino "as they juggle work, school and practice all while planning their dream wedding."

[05/25/12 - 07:05 AM]
ABC to Exclusively Broadcast Celtics-Sixers Game Seven
Mike Breen and analyst Jeff Van Gundy will call the game, which starts at 8:00/7:00c, with reporter Doris Burke.

[05/25/12 - 06:34 AM]
Lifetime's Major Program Event, "The Week the Women Went," to Premiere in August
The four-part series was previously slated to launch on Wednesday, June 6.

[05/25/12 - 06:00 AM]
2012 MTV Movie Awards to Feature Exclusive Footage From "The Dark Knight Rises" on Sunday, June 3 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on MTV
Plus: Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey, stars of the upcoming film "Magic Mike," will join its impressive line-up of presenters.