Essence to Launch Interactive Webisode

by Angela

August 24, 2007

Essence Studios’ first project will be “30 Dates in 30 Days,” the industry’s first interactive, online reality dating show, set to debut in September on Essence.com.

The show will pair five single women with six eligible bachelors each for a week’s worth of dates. Documented on video, each webisode will feature one of the six consecutive dates with different bachelors, complete with post-date testimonials.

Viewers will be asked to vote each day on which bachelor she should go out with, what she should wear, where the couple should go on their date, and whether she should go out with her selected bachelor again.

“30 Dates in 30 Days” culminates with a group-date event featuring the viewer-matched couples. Read more on EURweb.com

Looks very interesting, particularly how web users will be able to interact online with the webisode’s singles.

Tech Tags: Essence Time+Warner Essence+Communications Essence+Studios african-american web+2.0 black+web black webisode video+content interactive video+interaction EURWeb.com

Category: Content, Launches, web 2.0

Markus

Very interesting. I'm glad to see Essence launching this. I'm curious to see how popular it gets.

blackweb20

Yes, I am eager to see how this turns out as well. They have already had success with online promotions such as "Will You Marry Me?" (surprise wedding proposals) and "Essence Do Right Men" (profiling eligible bachelors) so it won't be a surprise if this does well, it should. They have already established a user group who visit their site have have an interest in this sort of content.

"The new division – called Essence Studios – will focus on developing content for online, mobile, video-on-demand and television distribution." I am interested in also seeing how their mobile and online content will intermingle. You can read more about Essence Studios' digital venture on Crain's New York Businesses.

Markus

On another note, how does one get a verification code for you contact form? I have been trying to contact you.

blackweb20

Thanks for the note, I updated the contact form you should be able to use it now. In the future you can always contact me at angela(at)blackweb20(dot)com, I will post my email on the contact page in addition to the contact form, Thanks!

-angela