NBC, JETSET STUDIOS AND TELEFON PROJEKT DIAL UP VIEWERS WITH VIRTUAL CALL CENTER FOR NEW NBC COMEDY SERIES ‘OUTSOURCED’

Interactive Promotional Campaign Uses Breakthrough Technology to Simulate Real-Time Video Chat

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – September 9, 2010 – NBC, Jetset Studios and Telefon Projekt jointly have launched a cutting-edge virtual call center experience to promote “Outsourced,” the network’s new workplace comedy series about catalog-based company Mid America Novelties, whose call center has suddenly been outsourced to India. The application, available at www.midamericanovelties.com, allows web users to enter their phone number and immediately receive a telephone call from the Mid America Novelties call center. “Outsourced” premieres on NBC on Thursday, September 23 (9:30-10 p.m. ET).

Innovative “simulated video chat” technology will synch the video being played on users’ computers with the audio being played over their phones, allowing for a real-time, interactive conversation with show’s own Rajiv (Rizwan Manji), Gupta (Parvesh Cheena) and Todd (Ben Rappaport) on the computer screen.

Additionally, every user will receive a free “virtual good” that can be shared with friends via Facebook.

“We are always looking for innovative ways to engage and interact with viewers, and the virtual call center creates an opportunity to do that,” said Adam Stotsky, president of marketing, NBC Entertainment. “It also provides a unique way for us to introduce the characters and the show and then reward users with a virtual gift they can pass to friends as an invitation to share in the experience.”

The “Outsourced” application was conceived by Jetset Studios, an award-winning transmedia marketing agency and original content production house.

Jetset, in collaboration with Telefon Projekt, designed, wrote, and produced the original content featured in the experience. Telefon Projekt, whose technology lets content producers create conversations between real people and virtual characters, developed ‘simulatedvideo chat’ in partnership with Jetset.

“We are thrilled to introduce this next generation interactive experience to promote NBC’s ‘Outsourced’,” said Russell Scott, CEO of Jetset Studios.

Patrick Young, Jetset Studios’ president, agrees: “With its outrageous comedy, ‘Outsourced’ is the perfect complement to this cutting edge technology.”

“Conversation – whether spoken or text exchanges – is the most natural interface ever devised,” said Tony Sheeder, co-founder of Telefon Projekt. “Everyone has vast experience talking to other people, and we realized that using conversation to interact with stories allows us to create very powerful, very intimate experiences that blur the line between fiction and reality.

The application lives on MidAmericaNovelties.com, “Outsourced’s” “in-universe” site on NBC.com. For fans interested in the latest products from Mid America Novelties — from the bacon wallet to the beer guzzler hat — the site offers big laughs and a hilarious take on the show.

Source: NBC Press Release