Content Focus: Bingo night live
- Published: 12 June 2008 08:25
- Last Updated: 18 June 2008 08:20
ITV is returning to late night gaming in a bid to revive the popularity of British bingo - and viewers can play along online.
The format
ITV's Bingo Night Live is the broadcaster's first show to appear on the web and TV concurrently.
Since the smoking ban, the oldies - and others - are less inclined to gather in the bingo halls, according to Barnaby Hobbs, general manager of digital agency Dubz.TV. The interactive element of the show is meant to lend a similar "group" experience, with the TV presenters using an interactive map of the UK to identify players across the country.
Dubz.tv has created a microsite that fits with the structure of ITV Broadband. Using Flash technology, the site draws numbers in real time, as they appear on the TV show. Numbers on the net are daubed out and the technology recognises lines and rows and magic numbers.
The online player has a personalised experience with winning sequences and visual prompts designed to mimic the bingo hall experience.
The TV show is broadcast live from 12.00am every night from Tuesday to Saturday. Presenters Melinda Messenger and Michael Underwood are encouraging people to go to the site, where they can register and participate for free.
Players can win virtual cash prizes in games such as Golden Jackpot, Magic Numbers and Minute to Win It. Hobbs said: "The scheme is intended to provide an incentive to traditional broadcast audiences to move to ITV's web services."
During each game, the numbers drawn show up on the "wall of numbers" and are marked as they are called by Underwood. Messenger presents Magic Number draws.
Who is behind it?
Digital agency Dubz.tv is producing the website, which was commissioned by William van Rest, controller of ITV Play.
Where can I see it?
www.itv.com/bingonightlive
