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Solve Summer Bay’s mystery online

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Spoiler Alert:

Home and Away is taking a leaf out of Lost’s (amongst others) book by adding interactive, parallel stories to an online portal. Designed to keep fans satiated while the show rests for the Olympics, Summer Bay Online will launch on Monday asking fans to help solve the mystery of Rachel’s disappearance.

A cross between an online drama and an interactive game the site will include clues, puzzles, specially-prepared videos, plus nostalgic videos and postcards.

And fans will finally see, once and for all, a definitive Summer Bay map.

Press Release:
In an Australian first, Yahoo!7 is launching an exclusive interactive drama, Summer Bay Online, whereby the storyline of Seven’s most popular Australian drama series, Home & Away, will be played out online over four weeks.

Launching Monday 4th August at 7.30pm following Seven’s Home & Away nightly show, Summer Bay Online (www.summerbayonline.com.au) on Yahoo!7 will sync in with the storyline of the TV series as anticipation builds in the lead up to the wedding of key characters, Rachel and Tony. Later in the week as Rachel mysteriously disappears, Summer Bay Online will create a parallel online world where Home & Away’s million loyal fans can solve the mystery of Rachel’s disappearance by exploring the familiar world of their favourite drama series, solve puzzles, engage with other fans in group forums, and be in the running to win $20,000.

During the two weeks of Seven’s comprehensive 2008 Beijing Olympics coverage when Home & Away is off-air, the mystery will continue to unfold online and build tension as the audience works alongside key Home & Away characters to unravel Rachel’s disappearance.

A cross between an online drama and an interactive game, Summer Bay Online comprises:
· Summer Bay Map – first time this has been produced by Seven for the public
· Daily Video from popular characters, such as Irene and Alf, letting players know the latest from the Bay and what locations to visit to solve the puzzle
· Daily ‘To Do List’ – players can personalize and keep tally of their clues each day
· Interaction with the characters – a number of key locations in Summer Bay Online will be populated by characters from Home & Away, appearing in video sequence to share information, tasks or Bay gossip. Plus, fans will receive emails and voicemails from key characters to help solve the online mystery.

· Viral ability to send postcards from the Bay to your friends.
· Internet radio station streaming the latest hits featured on Home and Away
· Memory Stars – a library of all your favourite clips from the last 20 years of Home & Away, including the first ever episode, the Fletchers moving into the Bay, weddings and other special moments.

Tim Worner, Seven Director of Programming and Production said: “Home & Away is one of the most popular programmes on Australian television – not only in terms of television ratings but the fans’ connection with the programme. It’s a natural development for us in taking the programme beyond television. The site is innovative and expands on and complements the television programme. While this might be the first initiative of this kind in Australia, it certainly won’t be Seven’s last as we expand beyond television with our major brands.”

Kristin Carlos, Head of TV, Yahoo!7, added: “Summer Bay Online moves drama
entertainment away from being a passive activity for the audience. This interactive initiative offers a unique drama and gaming experience weaving fact and fiction, reality and unreality in a way which not only draws audiences in imaginatively, but embeds fans further in the TV series.

“The Home & Away site is one of our most popular TV destinations on Yahoo!7 with fans consuming up to one million video streams each month. We’re excited to be able to extend this passion by working closely with the Home & Away storywriters and Hoodlum to produce such an innovative online experience,” continued Carlos.

Seven and Yahoo!7 partnered with the award winning team at Hoodlum (the producers of LOST Find 815) to create Summer Bay Online.

Summer Bay Online launches at 7:30pm on Monday 4th August
www.summerbayonline.com.au

Home & Away airs Monday to Friday at 7pm on Channel Seven:
www.yahoo7.com.au/homeandaway

8 Responses

  1. hi all, um i really adore watching home and away i watch it every day and if i dont i watch it on sauday when they play all the epsodes man its the best program i have ever watched

  4. Hey my name is mitch and i think home and away is the best show in the whole world and it is awesome. Ive watched from when i cauld understand it. I love it and i could’nt watch the episode where bell dies. Lol dont stop filming. C ya l8er.

  7. the summber bay momorie where basced on all the stuff that happend there was sad ones happy ones and wedding ones
    and from that experience i think it was great and summerbay should do it again
    thanks ireen

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