Users Can Chat In Real Time with Show Creators Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein
New York, NY — January 4, 2012 — IFC is launching a live, dual-screen experience that gives viewers the chance to interact with each other around the network’s slate of popular original comedies and the talent behind them. Titled IFC Sync and housed on ifc.com, this online interactive companion engages users in a conversation around what’s airing on the network in real time, and allows users to chat with show personalities, view video clips, answer show-specific trivia questions, and earn points to win real and virtual prizes.
“Portlandia fans are some of IFC’s most engaged viewers and we’re excited to give them an even more robust, immediate way to connect with the show and especially with Fred and Carrie,” said Craig Parks, IFC’s vice president of digital media. “Since the first season concluded nearly a year ago, these super fans have stayed connected to the show online via clips, games and social media conversations. IFC Sync is a way for us to connect with this audience on an even deeper level.”
IFC Sync launches in conjunction with the second season premiere of IFC’s hit comedy series, Portlandia, on Friday, January 6 at 10 pm, ET/PT. Show creators, writers and stars Fred Armisen (SNL) and Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney, Wild Flag) will be online with users sharing their experiences and stories from the show and answering questions, throughout the show’s debut. IFC Sync will be enabled during each of the show’s 10 episodes, with future conversations hosted by an IFC moderator.
Users can access IFC Sync via their Facebook login. The platform will also feature a Characters page where users will meet the new and unique personalities that populate the world of Portlandia, and a Facebook-based Leaderboard which tallies users’ points and ranks them among all players. Points can be earned by participating in live chats and answering trivia questions that are time-coded to scenes within each new episode every Friday night at 10 pm, et/pt. Points can also be earned by completing games and creating a Portlandia avatar and posting the results on Facebook, both part of a specially designed Portlandia Activity Book (http://portlandia.ifc.com/activity-book/) on ifc.com. As participants earn more points, they will be entered into a lottery to win cool prizes, including limited-edition Portlandia posters, DVD sets of season one and show-themed lunch bags. Virtual badges can also be earned by achieving specific point levels.
The Portlandia dual-screen application is powered by ClipSync, the established social TV platform in viewer engagement and interaction.
About IFC
IFC creates and champions authentic, original content that is “Always On. Slightly Off.” Since 1994, IFC has cultivated television programming that challenges the conventions of storytelling. Today, IFC continues to embrace content with an indie perspective. Original series – headlined by brand-defining scripted and sketch comedy – air alongside an extraordinary collection of films and cult TV shows. Long and short-form original content inspired by music, web, gaming, animation, news, and culture is available on multiple platforms. IFC provides viewers access to must-see festivals and events around the country, like the Film Independent’s Spirit Awards and SXSW. IFC.com features exclusive video, podcasts, blogs, news and reviews cultivated and written by industry experts. The network’s On Demand offering, IFC Free, gives fans the opportunity to watch select content from IFC whenever they want. IFC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.
About AMC Networks Inc.
Dedicated to producing quality programming and movie content for more than 30 years, AMC Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: AMCX) owns and operates several of the most popular and award-winning brands in cable television. AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, and IFC Films produce and deliver distinctive, compelling and culturally relevant content that engages audiences across multiple platforms. The company also operates AMC/Sundance Channel Global, an international programming business, and AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, a full-service network programming origination and distribution company.
About ClipSync
ClipSync is the leading social TV and viewer engagement company. ClipSync provides video content owners, such as television networks and movie studios, an industry-leading technology platform for creating, deploying, managing, and measuring a wide range of social TV applications. Over 50 networks worldwide, including Viacom, CBS, MTV, VH1, Showtime, Nickelodeon, Starz, Comedy Central, Independent Film Channel (IFC), Home Shopping Network (HSN), have deployed ClipSync to over 50 million unique viewers, generating more than a billion social TV viewer interactions. Founded in 2008, ClipSync has offices in New York and San Francisco. For more information please visit www.clipsync.com.