The recently created on-line series “Flatmates” (aka "T2para3":
http://t2para3.sapo.pt) is already a huge success amongst Portuguese Internet users, achieving more than 50.000 views per day, which includes videos, personal blogs of the main characters and associated social networking profiles.
“Flatmates” is the latest production of beActive, the creators of the cross-media hit series “Sofia’s Diary”, which was launched in Portugal five years ago. “Sofia's Diary” started up as a fictional blog on the Internet, quickly exploded into a multiplatform phenomenon: the brand extended to a daily radio show, a daily TV series (shown on the Portuguese public broadcaster RTP), with mobile phone content offering and a monthly magazine for teenagers, in addition to other merchandising. The format is also successful in the international markets, with several local productions taking place in Europe, South America and Asia.
The UK version of Sofia’s Diary is currently being produced by Sony Pictures Television (who also handles the international distribution) for the social networking site BEBO.
Targeted at 18-25 year old audiences, “Flatmates” is the story of three young college students – 2 girls and a boy, all from different backgrounds and parts of the country – who get to know each other as they are looking for a place to live in Lisbon. Through 2-3 minute online episodes, the users are invited to step into their student’ flat and follow their daily lives, relationship problems, and the simple difficulties they have in living together and sharing the same space. The series is broadcasted daily through the Sapo Videos WEB TV service, through the TMN Mobile TV service and as VoD content on Portugal Telecom's MEO IPTV service. The series is shot in High Definition (1080/25p) and distributed in different formats on the mentioned platforms, including in Full HD on the MEO's Video on Demand service.
Additional events in the storyline and videos are presented in the characters’ personal Blogs and on the SAPO SPOT Social Networking service. In this way, the fans can interact with the series by sending e-mails or posting comments and suggestions on the “Flatmates” Blogs. Once a month, the producers also organize "live" events where fans can interact more directly with the actors. Those events are shot and included in the main storyline, and feature local DJs and music acts, as well as guest artists and guest actors.
As in previous projects, beActive is working on additional brand extensions, which include a CD with of the show’s soundtrack and a book to be published this summer. The producers are also currently in talks with local broadcasters to create a TV series based on the on-line property.
About beActive:beActive is a young Portuguese company, created in 2002, with an already proven track record of successful cross-media entertainment formats, such as the interactive teen TV Series “Sofia’s Diary”. beActive launched “Sofia’s Diary” in 2003 in Portugal and the multi-channel interactive hit has been conquering worldwide TV screens ever since. beActive specializes in distinctive services supporting the creation, development and production of creative and innovative content. The company offers a catalogue of branded content for all screens, from TV to mobile phones.
About SAPO:SAPO is Portugal’s leading web portal with 900.000 unique daily visitors and a national reach of 91% among online users. Its video service, SAPO Videos, is roughly one year old, having already accumulated more that 120 thousand videos and generating 20 million monthly pageviews. SAPO is fully owned by Portugal Telecom.
More informations:Beactive, Produções Interactivas, S.A.
Av. Duque d’Ávila, 23, 1º Dtº
1000-138 Lisboa
Portugal
Telephone: (+351) 21 310 0142
Fax: (+351) 21 352 6314
E-mail: nmb@beactive.pt
Web:
www.beactive.pt