MTV.COM: The Island Website

[quote=jackie7384;25425]Does anyone know when the site will be up on MTV?[/quote] They will probably wait a while before the site is up maybe a week or less before the challenge actually airs as not to give too much away too soon. But who knows when MTV will decide to put it up, could be the day it airs.

Again, I have to say they won't put it up until the Challenge starts. Maybe they will put it up a bit before the Challenge, but they won't reveal anything, but the cast perhaps.

Since not one of us have a clue when MTV will have their page up for The Island, let's give this thread some life. When do you think MTV should give The Island its own place on MTV.com, and more importantly, why? We are far enough away that a cogent argument might actually influence the decision-makers.

If it were my decision, I would put up the new page on 9/1 (Monday). It leaves just over 2 weeks before the challenge begins and a more then a week if they are going to do one of those preshow specials the week before. I am not sure if they want to reveal more of the challenge, but the trailer aired quite a long time ago. I would assume most casual watchers either haven't seen it or have lost the hype they had when they first watched. Even some of the more hardcore watchers who don't come on to sites like Vevmo most likely have forgotten about the challenge and the actual trailer itself never gave an exact date for the show to start. MTV can make a post about the challenge on their main page to accompany the challenge site. In 17 days, people will see the trailer again with an air date (if no new trailer is to be released) and look at other things on the Island page. This should regain the hype they had initially with the fans when the trailer was released.

[quote=hpkhg45;25592]If it were my decision, I would put up the new page on 9/1 (Monday). It leaves just over 2 weeks before the challenge begins and a more then a week if they are going to do one of those preshow specials the week before. I am not sure if they want to reveal more of the challenge, but the trailer aired quite a long time ago. I would assume most casual watchers either haven't seen it or have lost the hype they had when they first watched. Even some of the more hardcore watchers who don't come on to sites like Vevmo most likely have forgotten about the challenge and the actual trailer itself never gave an exact date for the show to start. MTV can make a post about the challenge on their main page to accompany the challenge site. In 17 days, people will see the trailer again with an air date (if no new trailer is to be released) and look at other things on the Island page. This should regain the hype they had initially with the fans when the trailer was released.[/quote] You make a good argument. But my only issue with them making it two weeks in advance, what can they put on there to interest them? If they don't want to give away the format, than all they can do is post the cast. So why would you make one if there isn't much to put on? I do agree that they need to keep replaying the first trailer, or make another one, but don't reveal anything. Just add the date that the Challenge airs to it so people can know to watch that day.

[quote=Dartagnan;25622]I do agree that they need to keep replaying the first trailer, or make another one, but don't reveal anything. JUst add the date that the Challenge airs to it so people can know to watcht that day.[/quote] Great Idea Dart!

[quote=LilysMom;25623]Great Idea Dart![/quote] Thank you. I just feel they have worked so hard to maintain it so secretive this whole summer that they shouldn't waste it on a trailer or a website. Just replay the trailer with the date to watch and you should be good.

[QUOTE=Dartagnan;25622]You make a good argument. But my only issue with them making it two weeks in advance, what can they put on there to interest them? If they don't want to give away the format, than all they can do is post the cast. So why would you make one if there isn't much to put on? I do agree that they need to keep replaying the first trailer, or make another one, but don't reveal anything. Just add the date that the Challenge airs to it so people can know to watch that day.[/QUOTE] I agree with you that only a date should be added where it say "fall" on the current trailer or they could reedit this trailer with a couple new snippets (without revealing anything) and add a date. I don't think they should or will give away the format. But on the site, they could reveal the entire cast with their useless bio. They could put up pictures of the cast and house. They could also add polls, message boards, etc for people who don't know about other sites to discuss. My main reason for saying the site should come on the first is because I think people will need time to see the site itself. Most people don't long on to MTV.com everyday or even once a week. Most fans have forgotten about the original trailer and need some time to get back into the original hype.

[quote=hpkhg45;25637]I agree with you that only a date should be added where it say "fall" on the current trailer or they could reedit this trailer with a couple new snippets (without revealing anything) and add a date. I don't think they should or will give away the format. But on the site, they could reveal the entire cast with their useless bio. They could put up pictures of the cast and house. They could also add polls, message boards, etc for people who don't know about other sites to discuss. My main reason for saying the site should come on the first is because I think people will need time to see the site itself. Most people don't long on to MTV.com everyday or even once a week. Most fans have forgotten about the original trailer and need some time to get back into the original hype.[/quote] I agree with the first part. It is about time that they add in the date to one of the trailers. I agree as well, that they could reveal the cast. But a lot of people don't know that they are sleeping outside, just by that trailer. So if they post pictures of where they sleep, it kind of defeats the purpose. And polls wouldn't be bad. They could ask questions like: "Who doy ou think will go hom first?" Fans probably have forgotten about the trailer, but that is why they should just replay the trailer instead.

[QUOTE=Dartagnan;25641]I agree as well, that they could reveal the cast. But a lot of people don't know that they are sleeping outside, just by that trailer. So if they post pictures of where they sleep, it kind of defeats the purpose.[/QUOTE] That makes sense. I guess photos would have to be chosen with care. Usually they just add the photos of each cast member with generic backgrounds, not actual pictures from the challenge. The photos shouldn't be a problem with revealing any secret information.

[quote=hpkhg45;25645]That makes sense. I guess photos would have to be chosen with care. Usually they just add the photos of each cast member with generic backgrounds, not actual pictures from the challenge. The photos shouldn't be a problem with revealing any secret information.[/quote] They could reveal pictures of the cast members, but just nothing else because it could give away something that they weren't supposed to. Mane people don't know that this is Survivor-themed and pictures of them sleeping outside with no electricity would kinda give it away.

[QUOTE=Dartagnan;25650]They could reveal pictures of the cast members, but just nothing else because it could give away something that they weren't supposed to. Mane people don't know that this is Survivor-themed and pictures of them sleeping outside with no electricity would kinda give it away.[/QUOTE] I don't think they are hiding the survivor theme because of all the obvious survivor like things in the trailer, but the rest should not be shown.

[quote=hpkhg45;25652]I don't think they are hiding the survivor theme because of all the obvious survivor like things in the trailer, but the rest should not be shown.[/quote] Thats true. The trailer has already lead some people on the right track. But I just think the less obvious stuff, such as sleeping outside, and no electricity should be kept on the down low.

[quote=Dartagnan;25653]Thats true. The trailer has already lead some people on the right track. But I just think the less obvious stuff, such as sleeping outside, and no electricity should be kept on the down low.[/quote] I believe that they can put up a site before the challenge without getting too detailed. Reveal the cast and post some pictures but leave the rest vague. That way anyone not knowing the cast can ge hyped say on Rachel being there but know nothing about the actual format and be lured in to check it out when the episodes air.

Does anyone else have an opinion on when it should go up and why?

[quote=hpkhg45;25687]Does anyone else have an opinion on when it should go up and why?[/quote] Right now and the reason why is cause I want it to lol Actually I'd like it to get a close as possible to the air date but to still give enough time to get hyped because if it.

My only reason I would say to put the site up is because of the hype. If they don't release another trailer, or replay the other one, how is anyone going to know to watch? Other than that, the site doesn't matter. If they just replay the trailer or make a new one, a website isn't needed.

I am completely against putting up an "Island" website, now or in the near future. It would break MTV's long standing tradition of trying to hide their shows from the viewing public. It would be a travesty if people actually found out when this series was airing and what it was about directly from the source. It is better that people use "the google" to seek out these answers, which creates confusion and ambivalence (ambivalence in this case = Good!) They are well aware that sufficient hype could be carried into ratings. If "The Island" surpassed "The Hills" in hard viewer numbers, embarrassed executives would have to invest more in these high quality, expensive reality extravaganzas rather than focus on the cheaper soft scripted, fauxality, mental disembowelments that are currently in favor. Most importantly, this would also be devastating to the Hooters girls in the Los Angeles area who make their extra income filling out roles such as "Friend #3" and "Random bar girl #5" in the current wave of Laguna beach spin-offs. [CENTER][URL="http://vevmo.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=270"][IMG]http://vevmo.com/imagehosting/148a42d9d0ddae.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT=Book Antiqua][B]Employment: Big factor in not creating website in a timely manner[/B][/FONT] [/CENTER] My advice to the MTV hierarchy would be to wait until about episode 8 before putting up any type of website or showing additional commercials. Also, when the website finally [I]is[/I] launched, it should be hard to navigate (to guarantee only the deserving diehard's can find what they are looking for) and slow (to reward those with patience.) If they stick to the plan, ratings should be off by 5%-8% from "The Gauntlet 3" and to everyone's relief, two more "Beach" spin-offs (featuring Friend #3 and Random bar girl #5) will be welcome additions to the MTV Winter 2009 schedule.

I see where you are coming from and I agree with most of what you are saying. I don't feel they should put up a website at all, until the show starts, but I do think they need to replay the trailer with the date. How do you think the ratings will go up if viewers have absolutely no clue as to how to get to the website?

Dartagnan, I was being [I]ironic.[/I] lol

[quote=Bacchus;25881]Dartagnan, I was being [I]ironic.[/I] lol[/quote] I picked that up!! :D

[quote=OtherPplsDrama;25883]I picked that up!! :D[/quote] Hahaha, So did I... I guess we just know B a little bit better than D does... And pretty much anytime someone uses the word travesty, you know not to take them literally!

wait--so... you weren't serious, B?

[quote=killer_tofu;25884]Hahaha, So did I... I guess we just know B a little bit better than D does... And pretty much anytime someone uses the word travesty, you know not to take them literally![/quote] At first I thought he was joking, but then I was like why waste such a long post, if you are just kidding. Whatever. Haha. So Bacchus, any opinion on what they should do regarding Challenge promoting?

[quote]So Bacchus, any opinion on what they should do regarding Challenge promoting? [/quote][B]Step 1:[/B] Fire everyone. [B]Step 2:[/B] Acquire crack team of high order, simian primates from San Diego Zoo. [B]Step 3:[/B] ??? [B]Step 4:[/B] Profit!

[quote=Bacchus;25895][B]Step 1:[/B] Fire everyone. [B]Step 2:[/B] Acquire crack team of high order, simian primates from San Diego Zoo. [B]Step 3:[/B] ??? [B]Step 4:[/B] Profit![/quote] LOL By God that could actually work! And then they can come here and do my laundry!

[quote=Bacchus;25881]Dartagnan, I was being [I]ironic.[/I] lol[/quote] I used to have that problem, but I solved it with A) a housekeeper and B) No-iron cotton shirts. The above makes more sense than ANY website MTV has produced...

[quote=V1man;25905]I used to have that problem, but I solved it with A) a housekeeper and B) No-iron cotton shirts. The above makes more sense than ANY website MTV has produced...[/quote] So do you know if they have thought of any way to possibly promote this Challenge? Haha. You dislike their website V?

[quote=Dartagnan;25914]So do you know if they have thought of any way to possibly promote this Challenge?[/quote] I think they're going with sandwich boards placed at strategic intersections in major cities.

[QUOTE=Dartagnan;25914]So do you know if they have thought of any way to possibly promote this Challenge? Haha. You dislike their website V?[/QUOTE] I just don't understand their approach to marketing, if they have one. I thought the teaser for The Island. coming when it did at the end of the Hollywood season, was absolutely brilliant. But, waiting to exploit that buzz to the benefit of both the challenge and for other MTV shows, was beyond idiotic. If they paid someone for that marketing advice, I hope they paid no more than a dollar for it. I would have argued for one new think a week, akin to our weekly spoiler, to sustain and grow audience excitement for the show. I know that they think so highly of this challenge that they decided to fast-track another one and were actually talking to some of The Island cast before they ever left Panama, so why let it lay dormant over the summer. It makes not sense to me. Vision 1 has managed client accounts at iamonmtv.com and found it the least user friendly of any site going back about about 10 years. Bacchus has, I expect, a highly evolved professional opinion of the competence of those who have built all the MTV Network sites. He is the best one to respond to technical questions about their sites.