Written by Liz Gannes
Posted Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 1:35 AM PT

 

MySpace Looking for TV Pilots

MySpace announced tonight (via email) it is teaming with the FOX network and the Producers Guild of America to seek out television pilots. The partnership could provide a shortcut straight to OldTeeVee, with a promised “opportunity for a development deal with FOX” as well as $25,000 for the two winning entries. The so-called “Storyteller Challenge,” starting September 4, will ask for 5- to 7-minute television pilots to be submitted and voted on through MySpace.

Interpretations of the move vary. TechCrunch calls it an effort to replicate Prom Queen and compete with Sony’s recently relaunched Crackle. paidContent calls it an attempt to differentiate from Facebook. Variety notes,

Fox summer skein “On the Lot,” which aimed to find a theatrical director through an on-air contest, with judges commenting on work, flopped in the ratings. But News Corp. hopes the contest will be better suited to online medium than an hourlong primetime show.

The truth is, MySpace (and any other popular social network) is a great medium for building audiences for shows, especially online shows where maintaining character profiles and such comes naturally. And while the web is growing saturated with online video contests, this one still offers enough exposure, moolah, and chance for a deal to turn a few heads. However, bringing a show out of its web pilot and onto TV is a shaky proposition.

MySpace has been ramping up its video efforts; it recently launched MySpace TV as well as a minisodes network of old television. It is also, of course, involved in the joint “NewCo” deal between its parent News Corp and NBC. Yesterday we made mention of a CNET story that claimed MySpace was paying some $400,000 per episode of an upcoming show called QuarterLife. MySpace denied the story, and we haven’t seen confirmation of it elsewhere.

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Topic: Networks & Studios, Online Video
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Comments & Trackbacks

  1. [...] NewTeeVee reports that MySpace, along with the FOX network and the Producers Guild of America, is launching a new video competition, which aims to seek out new television production talent via the social networking site. Dubbed the “Storyteller Challenge”, starting September 4, MySpace will ask for 5-to 7-minute television “pilots” to be submitted and voted on by users of the site. Two winners will be rewarded with a $25,000 pay-cheque, as well as the possibility of a development deal with FOX. [...]

    » MySpace, a place for finding talent? | The Social Web | ZDNet.com on July 26th, 2007 at 4:31 am - Permalink

  2. Ive been waiting for FOX and News Corp to leverage its MySpace acquisition and user base to push new content ,

    Matt_ on July 26th, 2007 at 5:39 am - Permalink

  3. [...] Teams with Fox To Find TV Talent Posted by Michael Garrett on July 26th, 2007 MySpace recently announced that it will be teaming up with the FOX television network and the Producers Guild of America to [...]

    MySpace Teams with Fox To Find TV Talent on July 26th, 2007 at 1:12 pm - Permalink

  4. [...] MySpace Looking for TV Pilots MySpace announced tonight (via email) it is teaming with the FOX network and the Producers Guild of America to seek out […] [...]

    Top Posts « WordPress.com on July 26th, 2007 at 5:02 pm - Permalink

  5. [...] We read this on NewTeeVee. [...]

    MySpace StoryTeller Challenge « Q2’s View of the World on July 27th, 2007 at 9:48 am - Permalink

  6. [...] MySpace cerca TV Pilots per FOX. MySpace la super piattaforma di Murdoch ha annunciato una nuova iniziativa in collaborazione con FOX: si cercano nuovi format per la nettv. (tags: fox myspace video) [...]

    Le News del 28.7.2007 | tommaso.tessarolo on July 27th, 2007 at 9:27 pm - Permalink

  7. [...] for MySpace over Facebook a few posts back, and I just learned that they are looking to create a TV pilot! They are in cahoots with FOX to produce the television show, and the winning entries will receive [...]

    delightfully dorky… » Blog Archive » MySpace on TV on July 29th, 2007 at 7:33 am - Permalink

  8. Anyone know how to apply for this by any chance?!

    becki burrows on July 30th, 2007 at 3:47 am - Permalink

  9. Becki — from the sounds of it, you’ll have to wait till the contest starts September.

    Liz Gannes on July 30th, 2007 at 8:58 am - Permalink

  10. [...] The contest was billed as a way to find Hollywood’s next great producer, and promised the opportunity for a development deal with Fox. Development deals were offered, but neither of the winning pilots are being put into production [...]

    No Pilot Production for MySpace Winners « NewTeeVee on February 1st, 2008 at 3:00 am - Permalink

  11. Wow, I just think that is awesome. MySpace is just expanding and expanding.

    AllThatBlog on April 15th, 2008 at 4:27 pm - Permalink

  12. [...] MySpace Looking for TV Pilots Posted by root 15 minutes ago (http://newteevee.com) Top posts wordpress com on july 26th 2007 at 5 02 pm permalink no pilot production for myspace winners newteevee on february 1st 2008 at 3 00 am permalink if your comment doesn 39 t show up immediately it may have gotten caught in our idg technetwork midd Discuss  |  Bury |  News | MySpace Looking for TV Pilots [...]

    MySpace Looking for TV Pilots | Wood TV Stand on May 31st, 2009 at 2:54 pm - Permalink

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