Wanted: A Grittier Online Presence

TNT will debut a new crime series called “Wanted” on July 31, and tabbed Atlanta-based Studiocom to provide a web-based interactive presence.

With television commercials being routinely ignored by potential audiences, TNT went a different route. Working with full-service interactive agency Studiocom, TNT now has what it hopes will be a compelling, immersive experience online for creator Jorge Zamacona’s new series.

Studiocom has went with several elements to create the “Wanted” site. A trailer for the first episode, along with promotional clips, can be found online. An online comic book will detail some of the action from the series, and includes a playable game within its pages. Flash figures prominently in the site’s design.

Bud Light and Dodge have placement as show sponsors, with Dodge receiving further on-screen displays in video clips delivered by AOL’s on-demand service. TNT and AOL are both properties of Time Warner.

According to Studiocom’s Patricia Camden, other promotions for “Wanted” have been discussed, but nothing further decided yet.

Television is very much a copycat industry. Should Studiocom’s work help deliver an audience for “Wanted,” it will be hard to imagine new series from other networks not trying to replicate those efforts too.

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.