Big Brother is watching you – online
Thursday, 23 Nov 2006 16:26
Who wants to be the new Nikki?
Wannabe celebs will soon be able to audition for their 15 minutes of fame on the web, as Big Brother goes all 21st century on us.
Would-be contestants are to get the chance to audition for a place in the house on the relaunched E4 website, which has been rebranded for 2007 as a social networking site.
Starting next year, young hopefuls will be able to upload video clips of themselves with the aim of impressing BB judges.
Other users will be able to view and rate the entries – something that you would think would put some people off but probably won't.
At least one applicant will then be chosen to enter the Big Brother house for the eighth series of the apparently indestructible reality TV series.
"E4 already has a powerful connection with younger audiences and looms large in their media consumption habits," Andy Duncan, Channel 4's chief executive, said.
"These viewers are the first generation to grow up with the internet and they are driving the phenomenal growth of social networking online and of user-generated content as a mainstream entertainment medium.
"Big Brother is also a global phenomenon and we think it’s a perfect platform to launch this initiative and propel Channel 4 into one of digital media’s fastest growing marketplaces."
With the rise of community sites such as MySpace and YouTube, Channel 4 is hoping its new site will prove a hit with younger users, who will be able to create personalised pages and upload their own content.