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 Forum index » Archive » Archive: General » Old News & Rumors
[TV/ARG?]The Runner
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Varin
I Have No Life


Joined: 02 Dec 2002
Posts: 2456
Location: South of where I used to be

 		[TV/ARG?]The Runner
It looks like ABC is resurrecting an old reality show idea with ARGish elements...

The Runner article in Variety

Quote:
'Runner' laces up
Yahoo! revives abandoned ABC reality idea
By JOSEF ADALIAN

Yahoo! is teaming with Mark Burnett and Live Planet in a bid to bring
back shelved ABC project "The Runner" -- and if it happens, it could
be one of the biggest entertainment events ever on the Internet.

Lloyd Braun, the ex-ABC chief who heads the Yahoo! Media Group, is
spearheading the new project with Burnett and the original Live Planet
production team of Ben Affleck, Sean Bailey, Matt Damon and company
CEO Larry Tanz.

Concept began life with Live Planet and ABC back in 2000 but was
halted due to production difficulties heightened by the aftermath of
9/11.

While "The Runner" always boasted a strong online component, new take
is envisioned as an Internet-driven event for Yahoo! in what's easily
the most ambitious production since Braun joined the company at the
end of 2004.

A spokesman for Yahoo! confirmed the project "is in development, but
it hasn't been given the greenlight."

If it does move forward, "The Runner" could go live as soon as this
summer and would likely unfold over the course of one to two months.
Scheduling is a big question: Internet usage is down in the summer,
but a fall launch would mean competing against the broadcast networks'
new shows.

Indeed, it's possible that financial and production considerations
could yet prevent a greenlight for "The Runner," insiders insisted. A
final nod would have to come from Yahoo! CEO Terry Semel.

None of the parties involved would comment on specifics, but the basic
concept of "The Runner" remains the same: A designated operative --
the "runner" -- has to elude capture by average folks as he or she
travels across the country. Game will take place in both the real
world and online, with audience members competing to snag a cash
bounty by "capturing" the runner.

Grand prize is expected to be several million dollars, a value that
exceeds the sum offered up by most TV reality shows. Other, smaller
prizes could be offered throughout the event.

People familiar with the project envision teams of players banding
together in a bid to share information about the whereabouts of the
"runner" -- much as diehard viewers of TV skeins such as "Lost" and
"Veronica Mars" turn to the net to decipher clues to those dramas'
mysteries.

"If we provide the spark, people will build the fire," one person
connected to the project said.

Agent on the run

It's believed Burnett and the Live Planet crew have tossed around
several scenarios for a fictional backstory that could be a part of
the game. In one, the new "Runner" would play on the idea of a
fictional CIA operative trying to avoid capture, a la the Jack Ryan
and Jason Bourne characters played onscreen by Affleck and Damon,
respectively. No final decisions on storyline have been made, however.

"The Runner" was originally envisioned as a once- or twice-a-week show
that would resemble a typical reality skein. Yahoo! version will be
much different, reflecting the strengths of the medium.

While there will be a significant video component to the game, it
won't take the form of half-hour or hourlong episodes like the ones
Burnett produces for television. Instead, it seems likely video clips
of varying lengths will be added throughout the day or night,
resulting in a show that's always "on."

"The hope is that it's going to be a fun experience for people who are
playing the game as well as for people not playing the game," one
person familiar with plans for the project said. "But this isn't going
to look like television."

What's more, it's believed the new "Runner" will try to utilize all of
Yahoo!'s various sites as part of the game. Players trying to track
the runner could call on Yahoo!Maps to find a location or Yahoo!'s
travel tools to investigate a flight or hotel. Clues could be spread
via the Yahoo! instant messenger.

'The Internet is the show'

When producers were first working on "The Runner" back in 2000, "The
Web was driving the TV show. Now the Internet is the show," said one
person familiar with what Burnett and Live Planet envision.

If Yahoo! decides to develop a TV component for "The Runner," it would
likely take the form of a series of specials. ABC would get first
crack at it, insiders said; so far, the Alphabet has not been
approached about such an idea.

While many expected Braun to quickly start making deals for Hollywood
talent when he took the post overseeing all of Yahoo!'s content
operations, exec has instead focused primarily on building up Netco's
new entertainment hub in Santa Monica. Only significant new original
content to come out of Yahoo! in the past year has been "Kevin Sites
in the Hot Zone," a series of original video reports from war zones
around the globe.

Last month, one of Braun's divisions also announced an early 2006
launch for "Wow House," a Web-based reality show that will follow
families as they renovate their home theaters; viewers will determine
winners.

Those efforts would pale in comparison with what Yahoo! has planned
with "The Runner." It's likely Yahoo! would spend a low seven-figure
sum on the project -- much less expensive than what a TV production
would cost but serious coin for a Net-focused event.

It's believed Braun reached out to Bailey about reviving "The Runner"
almost as soon as he arrived at the Internet company, with Burnett
joining the production not long after. Company officially optioned
"The Runner" about six months ago.

Braun's tenacity in sticking by "The Runner" isn't out of character
for the exec. He famously championed the small-screen smash "Lost"
even when some of his superiors thought him crazy to pursue such a
risky and expensive concept.

That said, the promise of profitability will likely be key to Yahoo!'s
ultimate decision to greenlight "The Runner."

Burnett and Live Planet have opted against huge upfront payments in
favor of generous backend profit participation deals.

Netco will try to make money on the project via advertising and
product-integration packages. Burnett is an expert on the latter, with
all of his TV shows regularly incorporating corporate sponsors into
storylines.

As the Web's top portal, Yahoo! is able to draw a huge audience to
entertainment events. Last month's Webcast of Howard Stern's farewell
to traditional radio was seen by 4.4 million people on the site.

Concept's challenges

Original "Runner" was part of the initial wave of reality mania that
swept the networks in the wake of the success of "Who Wants to Be a
Millionaire" and "Survivor." After ABC committed to 13 episodes back
in June 2000, it took producers nearly a year to find a showrunner --
live TV vet Roger Goodman -- they believed capable of mounting what
Braun himself at the time admitted was a "monumental production
challenge."

In spring 2001, Goodman was replaced by "Millionaire" exec producer
Michael Davies. At its May 2001 upfront, ABC told advertisers the show
would premiere sometime in the winter or spring of 2002.

Just a few months later, in September 2001, Braun decided to shelve
the project despite more than a year of intense development. Security
concerns in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks were cited as the main
reason for the decision, but difficulties in figuring out how to make
the production work also played a major role.

Technological advances since then make mounting "The Runner" much
easier.

Hidden cameras are smaller and even wireless, making it easier to
document the runner's journey without tipping off his or her
whereabouts through the presence of camera crews. Wi-Fi and broadband
access are also now widespread, making regular video updates a snap
for both producers and consumers.

(Ben Fritz contributed to this report.)

_________________
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:13 pm
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TJ229ER
Decorated


Joined: 09 Sep 2004
Posts: 292
Location: Los Angeles

 		Awesome, it would be great to see The Runner make a comeback.

PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 4:30 pm
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Shaded Spriter
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Joined: 07 Apr 2005
Posts: 282
Location: England

 		There was a show in the UK which was similar to this...except it had 3 teams who each week wear running from the shows crew - who were informed by the public on where they were...

they lost money if they got spotted during the week where they had to complete tasks on in the live show they were in a phone box and had to remain in it and If a member of the public led the crew to the right phone box they won some money - but alot of people gave them false information to help the contestants...

I am rabling right now...anyone remember what this was called...
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 4:57 pm
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konamouse
Official uF Dietitian


Joined: 02 Dec 2002
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Location: My own alternate reality

 		The premise for "Urban Hunt"!!!!! (aka "Dreadhouse ARG" done by Dave S. et al last year).
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:16 pm
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BottomlessPitMan
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Joined: 30 Mar 2005
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Location: San Jose, Ca

 		sounds great... hope it comes to full bloom...
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:51 pm
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Varin
I Have No Life


Joined: 02 Dec 2002
Posts: 2456
Location: South of where I used to be
konamouse wrote:
The premise for "Urban Hunt"!!!!! (aka "Dreadhouse ARG" done by Dave S. et al last year).


/me rescans the article for Dave's name

How cool would that be?
_________________
"I still miss him to this day and probably always will." - Todd Keeler, Chasing the Wish

"meta meta meta, I made you out of play..." ~ j5

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 12:55 am
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rowan
Unfictologist

Joined: 12 Apr 2004
Posts: 1966
Varin wrote:
* Varin rescans the article for Dave's name

You did look for hidden messages in the press release, right?
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:55 am
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Sporky
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Joined: 26 Jun 2005
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Location: York
Shaded Spriter wrote:
There was a show in the UK which was similar to this...except it had 3 teams who each week wear running from the shows crew - who were informed by the public on where they were...

they lost money if they got spotted during the week where they had to complete tasks on in the live show they were in a phone box and had to remain in it and If a member of the public led the crew to the right phone box they won some money - but alot of people gave them false information to help the contestants...

I am rabling right now...anyone remember what this was called...


It was called Wanted, and I bloody loved that show. We used to play a similar kind of game, but round town instead. Fun times.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:25 am
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audioslave
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Joined: 25 Sep 2005
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Location: Canada

 		If there's any big rig t.v/yahoo people reading this, sign me up!
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:36 pm
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TJ229ER
Decorated


Joined: 09 Sep 2004
Posts: 292
Location: Los Angeles

 		Just to let everyone know, Urban Hunt was based on The Runner. Not the other way around. So the two are not connected.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 3:29 pm
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Varin
I Have No Life


Joined: 02 Dec 2002
Posts: 2456
Location: South of where I used to be
TJ229ER wrote:
Just to let everyone know, Urban Hunt was based on The Runner. Not the other way around. So the two are not connected.


/me prefers to dream that somehow The Runner execs saw Urban Hunt and decided to hire Dave S. to resurrect the show from the graveyard

Rock On
_________________
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"meta meta meta, I made you out of play..." ~ j5

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:24 pm
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Reason
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 		Now that does sound like a great concept for a show... Look forward to watching from the UK Jetpack
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:22 pm
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Huginn
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Joined: 23 Apr 2005
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 		if done correctly, it could spark not only more mainstream ARG's, but would help bring about the pending revolution of internet TV.

Can you say potential classic in the making?

We'll see.

PostPosted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:21 pm
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catherwood
I Have 100 Cats and Smell of Wee

Joined: 25 Sep 2002
Posts: 4109
Location: Silicon Valley, CA

 		Is this the season for recycling old ideas? CBS is putting on "The Courier" starting next week: seven episodes, seven clues.

http://www.the-courier.com/

I feel the old Push, NV contest vibe, with a touch of Art of the Heist marketing, but possibly without the heart of either one.

p.s., the site is very slow to load, has no simple text for me to copy/paste here, and no links to any supporting pages. But you can click on the numbers for cut scenes. whoopee.

(edit -- doh! i didn't see the other thread. Well, these shows are all starting to look alike anyway.)

PostPosted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:18 am
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