Miss World launches web and IPTV channel

by Staff, Brand Republic 18-Aug-08, 11:35

LONDON - Miss World has launched a new interactive global website allowing fans to interact with the competition through TV programmes and exclusive content.

The site, launched by Internet Television Productions, offers each country the chance to sign up its own advertisers and sponsors as well as be responsible for driving national traffic to the site.

The Miss World final attracts a global TV audience of around 2.2bn, the largest for an annual event and only exceeded by the Olympics and football World Cup.

This year's event was to be held in the Ukraine in October but last week the organisers announced they were moving it following the outbreak of conflict in neighbouring Georgia. The contest will now be held in China for the second year running.

Television audiences for Miss World have declined in some countries with the ending of terrestrial broadcasting, however the pageant's fan base in territories such as eastern Europe, India and China has grown in recent years.

For the last two years the competition has been broadcast on Virgin Media's Challenge in the UK.

The Miss World site offers exclusive archive and up-to-date photos, news and programmes.

Viewers are offered a behind-the-scenes look at the event, including all the rounds of the latest Miss World contest filmed on the shores of Sanya in China, the country which produced last year's Miss World, Zhang Zilin.

Visitors will also able to watch the contestants and learn their beauty secrets as they prepare to battle it out for the Miss World title.

The site also features exclusive diary content and photos from Miss World Zhang Zilin's international schedule.

John Sachs, managing director of Internet Television Productions, said: "We have used the latest IPTV technology to create an interactive home for Miss World fans and community across the globe. Now you will be able to watch this exclusive content full screen on your pc or television."

Miss World fans can register as Miss World members, which will entitle them to exclusive offers and members' discounts on products and services featured on the site.

The e-shop on the site offers the new Miss World range, from caps and T-shirts to calendars and make-up bags.

The pagaent has not been broadcast on terrestrial television in the UK since 2004 when ITV held the rights.