Shine America, Fox Broadcasting Company and ACTV8.ME Launch Companion App for MasterChef Season Three to Provide Comprehensive Interactive Experience

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Shine America, Fox Broadcasting Company and ACTV8.ME today launched a fully interactive second screen experience to accompany the third season of hit reality-competition series MasterChef, which currently airs Mondays and Tuesdays (9:00-10:00 pm ET/PT) on FOX.

The new MasterChef second screen app, which is available today on the App Store for iPhone and iPad with an Android version available in the coming weeks, will offer an interactive show experience for the viewer, featuring recipes; exclusive content with show judges Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot; quizzes and polls to better get to know the contestants; as well as many other special surprises. Furthermore, viewers will be able to synchronize the app with the live show or DVR recording to enjoy real-time interaction with the show and other MasterChef fans.

David Anderson, SVP and Head of Digital for Shine America added, "MasterChef is the ideal format to create this type of deep interactive experience. MasterChef is a brand that's all about inspiring home cooks throughout the world so we've designed this app to feature the best recipe content, tips, and instructional videos that will allow the viewer to bring the show right into their own home and lives."

Bill Bradford, Senior Vice President of Digital Media for Fox Broadcasting Company says, "We're always looking for new ways to enhance and extend the FOX experience for our viewers, and the MasterChef app is a perfect way to do that. Not only does it give MasterChef fans new, creative ways to engage with their favorite show, but it also allows us to forge deeper connections with our audience."

Through the new MasterChef app, viewers can earn badges by watching and answering episodic trivia, download recipes from each episode, chat about the show in real-time via Twitter and Facebook, and watch quick video tips from the contestants. In addition, it features an in-app store, giving fans an easy way to purchase MasterChef merchandise.

Brian Shuster, CEO of ACTV8.ME says, "We are really excited to create a one-to-one relationship with the MasterChef audience and the app helps create that deeper relationship between show and viewer. We are also excited to continue building our relationship with FOX, with their great interactive team that have real visionary leadership and a smart growth strategy. We are also very fortunate to be working with Shine America. The digital team has helped push the boundaries of the application and the potential of the consumer experience."

About ACTV8.me

ACTV8.me empowers hit TV shows with its technology working alongside major TV networks and production partners. ACTV8.me delivers a "complete global media integration platform," which brings amazing new user experiences to life in next-generation TV connectivity. ACTV8.me is also working with its network and production partners to create new bi-directional TV entertainment; a new breed of interactive TV shows will emerge from these partnerships.

ACTV8.me leads the way in developing and designing new second-screen interactive TV shows, interfaces and mobile applications that facilitate discovery of content and users' relationships with it. With its proprietary technologies, ACTV8.me marries broadcast and cable television to the two largest social media platforms on the planet, and then makes it all interactive, thus creating the ultimate uber platform.

Its second-screen platform was built over three years with a vision and focus to empower subscribers to interact with TV content, while integrating social channel engagements, such as Facebook and Twitter, and a new digital ad model that creates a first of its kind, one-to-one relationship with the consumer. Their deployments enhance the TV viewing experience by providing interactivity, social game mechanics, community sharing and exclusive offers in the form of real-time digital coupons.

www.actv8.me

About SHINE AMERICA

Shine America is a world leader in producing and distributing compelling scripted and unscripted television and digital content, building brands through the leveraging of its intellectual property and creating integrated marketing opportunities for advertisers. Shine America is known for popular and award-winning original series including The Biggest Loser, Tabatha Takes Over, Shear Genius, and The Buried Life; adaptations of Shine Group formats MasterChef, One Born Every Minute and Parental Control; long-running scripted hits The Office, Ugly Betty, and The Tudors; and over 20 groundbreaking original online series on MSN, Yahoo!, YouTube premium channels and other platforms, many of these produced in partnership with global brands such as Toyota, Kraft Foods, Subway and Microsoft. Through its distribution arm, Shine International, Shine America distributes its extensive library of programming and formats to more than 150 countries.

SOURCE ACTV8.ME