| Service: |
Interactive application to enhance TV show, “Shock Treatment” |
| Production company: |
Diverse TV |
| Channel: |
Sky One/Sky One Mix |
| Launch: |
October 2004 |
| Show proposition: |
Reality show where contestants undertake physical and psychological challenges, focusing on fear |
| Brief: |
Use interactive enhancements to help viewers understand the concepts used in the show |
| Solution: |
Enhancements included a fear test and a competition |
© Diverse Productions Ltd./BSkyB Ltd. All rights reserved.
“Shock Treatment” is a reality TV series in which contestants are placed in a mental hospital and undertake physical and psychological challenges focusing on fear. The show investigates fear in all its forms, and is presented by Rutger Hauer.
The show is all about the psychology of fear and touched upon complex ideas that can be explained more fully with enhanced TV elements. The team wanted to use interactive enhancements to help viewers better understand the concepts involved in the show.
The series producer conducted all of the research for the enhanced area. The enhancements that viewers could access by pressing the red button on their remote control included:
- Scientific facts
- Experiments to try at home
- A 10-question fear trait test, written by show psychologist Dr Richard Wiseman
- A competition to win the coat worn (and signed) by the presenter Rutger Hauer
The show proved to be a success with a significant proportion of viewers taking part in the fear trait test and the competition.