National Geographic Channel Launches "Mission Expedition" — An Interactive Online Experience that Immerses Viewers Inside the Worlds Featured in Expedition Week

Viewers Can Explore and Capture Images of Tiny Hidden Artifacts Around Miniature Sets Inspired by NGC's Signature Event For a Chance to Find Rare EXPEDITION WEEK Collectibles Totaling More Than $10K

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- National Geographic Channel announced the launch of "Mission Expedition," an immersive interactive experience inspired by the signature event Expedition Week. Beginning Monday, March 28, and continuing through Saturday, April 9, viewers can log on to www.natgeotv.com/expedition between 2 p.m. and 2 a.m. EDT to control a telepresence camera attached to a model train, which snakes through a miniature set of a remote Papua New Guinean village populated by cannibals, Victorian London during the time of Jack the Ripper, the Himalayan Mountains with Yeti sightings and the Roman Coliseum during the gladiator era.

For up to 60 seconds, each participant will get to navigate the miniature set and participate in a photo safari in search of tiny hidden artifacts.  If the captured image turns out to be one of the hidden artifacts of the day, the viewer will be notified and the artifact delivered directly from the "Mission Expedition" set. Built over six weeks by Pittsburgh-based interactive firm Deeplocal, the "Mission Expedition" experience features nearly 200 miniature artifacts that are stand-ins for life-sized items, totaling more than $10K in value. Artifacts will be rotated throughout the set during each live play period.

Four Expedition Week-inspired characters — @HungryCannibal, @TheJackRipper, @MrAbominable, and @TheGladiatorMan — will extend the "Mission Expedition" experience by engaging viewers on Twitter in topical conversations related to Expedition Week programs and sharing links to exclusive video previews, photos, and behind-the-scenes stories from the Expedition Week online hub put together by the interactive firm Neo-Pangea.

Many of the artifacts that are part of "Mission Expedition" have been generously provided by the National Geographic Store, National Geographic Books, AncientResource.com, Inflatable-Animals.com, RareNewspapers.com and TaylorMadeFossils.com.

ABOUT EXPEDITION WEEK:

Building on the great success of the first two signature events 2011 Expedition Week brings viewers to more never-before-seen places, with 13 world premieres over seven straight nights. The entire week is hosted by the Shark Men as they prepare for the return of their series on Sunday, April 10. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com/expedition.

SOURCE National Geographic Channel