Hangman – a fast-paced online reality show which aims to uncover South Africa’s greatest innovator – has been announced by Cell C. The stakes are high in this revolutionary new programme with R1-million in prize money.
“Cell C’s strategic focus is around bringing relevance to the South African market through service offerings,” says Jose Dos Santos, CEO of Cell C. “A key focus is providing value added services and segmented content that is being consumed daily online. Customers are hungry for new, unique, fresh and entertaining content.”
With this in mind, Cell C embarked on producing the 10-part Hangman series which represents a new genre in unscripted entertainment and follows on the success of Cell C’s first online Break the Net reality talent show which streamed on the service provider’s Cell C Reality App last year.
Hangman is a global first in interactive, immersive entertainment, it puts viewers in the driver’s seat. By “investing” in a virtual Stock Exchange, they can help determine the outcome of the show, while standing in line to win viewer prizes including a car.
The new reality show also gives wings to the aspirations of entrepreneurs who have identified a gap in the market and have come up with an innovation that fills that space and want to bring it to the market.
Hangman consists of two different content streams. The first is the actual reality online series which would traditionally be consumed on prime-time TV but is now being streamed live online.
Contestants will have to prove their mettle through a series of gruelling challenges but their fate is determined by more than performance alone. They will have to win the approval of ‘Backers’, captains of industry and investment with keen business acumen and ruthless standards. These include businesswoman Phuti Mahanyele, celebrity economist Iraj Abedian, self-made billionaire Quinton van der Burgh and Bonang Mohale, chairman of Shell South Africa Energy Limited.
“It’s breakneck entertainment that sees contestants put their bodies on the line in the pressure cooker of innovation and turns viewers into real-time investors,” says Bl!nk Pictures director Odette Schwegler who was commissioned by Cell C to produce Hangman, a Cell C original.
“We are not seeking out a great businessman looking for an investment for a daily run-of-the-mill business or the sharp up-and-coming exec looking for a six-figure salary. It’s all about the innovators,” she adds.
Hangman is open to anyone residing or working in South Africa who wants to participate in the competition or just view the series. Simply download the Cell C Reality App on Android or iOS to access the shows and to register for the competition.
Access within the App will be zero rated for Cell C customers. Any breakout from the App will be charged as per current data depletion.
The Cell C Reality App is designed with a built-in points programme where points are awarded when customers download and interact within the App. Points are awarded for every week customers are active in the App, every time a video is viewed, when they create a profile, and more.
The second stream comes in the form of a Stock Exchange called ‘The Exchange’. Viewers can truly immerse themselves in the show, meet the Backers, be inspired by successful innovators and get expert business insights. The hub is constantly updated with “hot off the press” content straight from the Hangman set! To take part in the outcome of the show, win great prizes and rewards, viewers can become virtual investors by trading on The Exchange. They will also help drive the outcome of the competition.
All customers that download the Cell C Reality App automatically receive 100 000 points which they can use to participate in the ‘The Exchange’. Points are allocated to play the game. Customers win a variety of prizes by playing the game. Prizes include a car, smartphones, data, cash and vouchers.
The innovator who succeeds in garnering the support of the Backers, while rallying viewer/’investor’ sentiment, could walk away with a R1 million cash prize and everything needed to succeed in a 21st century market.
True grit, determination and prowess will determine the winner of the ultimate prize. Failure means facing the ‘noose’ of the Hangman!
Says Dos Santos: “Cell C is delighted to present this fully interactive and unscripted format with Hangman. It offers the opportunity for viewers to track innovator performance and invest ‘real time’ via a Cell C Stock Exchange App. They can also get involved ‒ up close and personal ‒ by helping contestants win their tasks. We are delighted that as an innovator, Cell C is continuing with the delivery of incredible content.”
Entry is open until July 21, with the show streaming online from October 9 to December 11. Contestants and viewers do not need to be a Cell C customer to play or download the App but Cell C customers will receive bonuses for participation and viewing the show.
