Bebo to order more shows
- Published: 16 October 2008 14:49
- Author: Robin Parker
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- Last Updated: 16 October 2008 14:49
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Bebo will commission at least six original productions next year under the banner of 'Bebo Originals'.
The social network wants to build on the profile of established formats such as dramas KateModern, Sofia's Diary and The Secret World of Sam King as well as reality format The Gap Year with a wider range of entertainment, reality and comedy commissions.
With the new branding, Bebo aims to make a distinction between commissioned productions and other formats posted on the site.
These will now be bracked into 'Third Party Productions', which will be either content produced by third parties that airs exclusively on Bebo, such as the forthcoming Meet the Freshers, or traditional TV shows reversioned for the site, and 'Open Media', a section of the network for conventional broadcasters to showcase their programmes. Bebo currently has 500 Open Media partners.
Bebo Originals will be commissioned by head of original productions Kelly Brett and Kate Burns, Bebo vice-president and managing director for Europe, and will be scheduled without direct competition.
"It's been just over a year since we brought KateModern to Bebo and demonstrated the full potential of popular short form content broadcast over a social network," said Joanna Shields, executive vice-president of People Networks at Bebo owner AOL. "Such has been the success of this and our other short form shows that have followed that we are delighted to be in a position to commit to a full multi-genre schedule for 2009."
