Sofia’s Diary on Bebo Raises The Bar For Original Internet Programming
FIVE MILLION VIEWIERS LOG ON FOR FIRST TWO WEEKS ONLINESocial networking site Bebo announced break-through viewing figures for Sofia's Diary produced by Irish company Campbell Ryan Productions, a new interactive online soap opera aimed at teenagers and twenty-somethings.
Since its debut on Friday 14th March, Sofia's Diary has been viewed by an impressive five million fans who have logged on daily to follow the adventures of Sofia and her friends as she adjusts to her new life in London.
The series, produced by Irish Producer Triona Campbell, has started solidly with the first episode attracting 305,000 views during the first 24 hours on Bebo, rising to 1,220,000 hits for the first four days online. Viewing figures consistently rose culminating in 2,491,994 hits for the first week online. With a further 2,557,194 fans logging on during the second week this brings the total Sofia's Diary views in the first two weeks online to just over five million.
Confirming the news Triona Campbell, CEO of Campbell Ryan, said: "Having worked for so long in traditional TV and film we are very excited by the figures, feedback and levels of audience participation with so many users taking Sofia to their hearts"
"We are delighted to be working social Networking leader Bebo and Hollywood studio Sony Pictures and Televsion International on Sofia's Diary which is the first New Media entertainment series of its kind in Ireland and the UK."
The cross-media series is funded through advertising, with a range of sponsors set to integrate their products seamlessly into the series. Among the first to be featured will be Sony BMG acts The Ting Tings and Dublin based band The Script who will be woven into the storyline.
Sofia's Diary follows 17-year-old Sofia Taylor (Rachel Hyde-Harvey; The Bill, Holby City), charting her ups and downs as she adjusts to a new life living with her dad, step mum and baby step-brother after being sent to London by her mum after accidentally blowing up the school chemistry lab! Sofia is feisty and witty with a fast, smart answer for (almost) every situation she gets herself into at school, at work and beyond.
Based on an international format owned by Sony Pictures Television International, Sofia's Diary is produced by Irish producers Campbell Ryan Film Productions for Bebo and has been shot on location across London. Beginning on Bebo, Sofia's Diary is set to become a multiplatform brand, stretching across TV, print, radio, podcasts and more. Writers for the series are Irish writer Danny Stack, Marta Gomes and Melanie Martinezs. Director is Manny Bonnet.
Conceived by Nuno Bernardo, Sofia's Diary was originally launched in Portugal in 2003 as an experimental web and mobile service. The original programme now has 200,000 visitors per month online, over 19,000 mobile subscribers and has run four series on Portuguese state broadcaster, RTP2. The series has since been adapted for audiences in the United States, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Turkey, Vietnam and now the UK.
For further information, images and interview requests please contact:
Trevor Curran, General Manager Campbell Ryan Productions
Tel + 353 1 4404205 or Trevor@crfilms.net