Potential Transmedia Succes Stories in Three Different TV-Shows

Regarding the ideas for our final transmedia project, we came up with three ways to expand three TV-Shows. 

Our first choice is the TV series ‘Suits’, which is mainly about two lawyers and the firm they work at. The series only has two seasons so far, but is very popular. Therefore, we saw great potential in it to become a transmedia production. We have thought of different extensions. One could be a clothingline of suits they wear in the show to be sold in stores. Furthermore, books could be published, with stories (lawsuits) that could stand on themselves, but give some more detail to the general story and thus provides more details as additional background for the TV series. Another extension could be an alternative reality game, in which the participants can download an app, which tells them where to go to find a virtual clue that could help them win the lawsuit they are doing in the game. For example, they have to go to the Euromast in the real world, to unlock a document in the virtual world that can help them win the lawsuit they are working in the virtual game. There are more extensions we have thought of, but I will keep it short.

Our second choice is the TV show ‘Runningman’. Runningman is a Korean variety show that has been very popular in Asia after being introduced two years ago. The participants are divided into two groups, which both have their own missions. That can be seeking and tearing the nametag of the other group, but many more things as well. The groups have to complete their mission to win. This show has not been advertised through transmedia yet. What we can do is explore more possibilities, such as introduce a video game. As the hosts, which are a fixed cast of people, have different characteristics that have already been shown in the show, we can modify them a bit into different categories, just like what Mario Kart did. The audience can then choose their favourite one and play the show by themselves. Another extension can be an official channel for blogging and serving as a real-time chat-room for the audience to participate. We can also engage the audience more by having a mission that involves the participation of them. Furthermore, the show can be presented into documentaries which record behind-the-scene moments of every host, or a movie that provides a story as background, with a larger shooting location, but using the same rules of the TV show.

Our last idea is the TV dating show ‘Take me Out’. It is a dating show which was aired on television in several countries including the Netherlands. We thought this would be a good example since it was not advertised through transmedia stories, there were just a couple of advertisements for the show to get contestants. We wanted to expand with blogs containing post-date information from the contestants. We wanted to use two kinds of apps, one with dating tips and one with date suggestions. Also we would like the contestants to twitter during their dates so the viewers could see on twitter how the date is going. We would like to create webisodes containing dating tips but also webisodes where we interview couples after the date to ask about their date experience and to see if they were still together. Also we would like to add a book with date suggestions. With these different platforms we would extend the story that is told during the programme and give different perspective for the audience to become a fan of the program.

With these three ideas we hope to make a succesful transmedia product. Let us know which one you think has the most potential and pitch any other creative ideas to help us go ever further!

By: Evelien de Smedt, Robin Alkemade, Arnold Yu and Shelley Barendregt