AOL And Endemol USA Announce Online Competition to Win an Island

April 17, 2007; 09:19 AM

AOL and Endemol USA today announced a groundbreaking interactive experience which will let users compete on AOL (http://www.aol.com) for the chance to win their own tropical island. The landmark competition appropriately named “iLand” will be produced for AOL by the world’s largest independent production company Endemol USA, producer of franchises such as Deal or No Deal, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Fear Factor and Big Brother. TV actress Brooke Burns has been selected to host iLand. It will premier on AOL in the second quarter of 2008.

“iLand” isn’t just a game – it’s a living social network. Players build profiles, compete in a series of online challenges, and test their mettle in front of an online audience. From there, one person will be given the chance to settle a remote tropical island – armed with only a laptop, wireless access, and the help of their online friends.

The online audience will choose new people to send to the island. They will also decide what to give to the stranded iLanders – supplies (helpful or not) and advice (both good and bad). As the community grows viewers will pick the top iLanders to compete for the island paradise they've worked so hard to create!

“AOL once again is proving itself as uniquely able to bring new large-scale interactive experiences to the Internet and attract huge audiences, and we are delighted to be working with Endemol to make this innovative new online experience a reality,” said Bill Wilson, EVP Programming, AOL. “Our goal is to create engaging experiences for consumers that also provide unique new opportunities for advertisers. And we believe that ‘iLand’ will be a big hit with both.”

“We are excited to partner with AOL to provide viewers with an unprecedented entertainment experience where anyone can win their own island,” said Jon Vlassopulos, VP Digital Media, Endemol USA. “We’ve always pushed the boundaries of what’s possible with our television shows and now we are proud to help define the future of entertainment. This is the first time where viewers can create a virtual community and then decide how it comes to life.”

AOL and Endemol will unveil “iLand” at the AOL First Look event in New York City today, along with several other new programs, including, “Gold Rush Goes Hollywood,” “Ye Old Shrek the Third Royal Announcement,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” tie-in and “Million Dollar Bill.” AOL First Look is the first time an online network has announced a series of major-scale programs at a single event, similar to traditional upfront events in the television industry.

About AOL

AOL is a global Web services company that operates some of the most popular Web destinations, offers a comprehensive suite of free software and services, runs the country's largest Internet access business, and provides a full set of advertising solutions. A majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. AOL LLC is based in Dulles, Virginia. AOL and its subsidiaries also have operations in Europe, Canada and Asia. Learn more at AOL.com.

About Endemol USA

Endemol USA is a leading producer of television programming specializing in reality and non-scripted genres for network and cable television. The company produces the break-out hits, Deal or No Deal, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Fear Factor and Big Brother. Endemol USA is a division of Endemol Holding, a prominent international content developer, producer and distributor of television and online programming. The company, headquartered in the Netherlands, has subsidiaries and joint ventures in twenty-one countries, including the major European markets, the U.S., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. Endemol Entertainment is a fully owned subsidiary of telecommunications giant Telefa S.A., one of the largest companies in Spain.