Refinery Media’s Multi-Platform Asian Reality series, Supermodelme, expands beyond the region and goes Global

MYX TV, the only Asian American entertainment network in the United States, proudly announces the upcoming premiere of SUPERMODELME, a competition reality show featuring ten aspiring female models of Asian heritage, fighting for international model superstardom. The show premieres on February 15th and airs Wednesdays at 10:30pm.

Shot in Singapore, SUPERMODELME features women of Sri Lankan, Malaysian, Chinese, Indian, and Korean descent, hailing from Australia, the United States, Asia, and Europe.

“SUPERMODELME is Asia’s first and only multi-platform, reality-based entertainment program breaking ground not only in the action/reality genre, but also in the realm of new media,” said Karen Seah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Refinery Media. “The show will be featured across TV, Internet and on Mobile. Through SUPERMODELME, Refinery Media aims to showcase Asia’s rising talent in production, photography, fashion and music for the program across a series of platforms. Our goal is to position SUPERMODELME as an arena to showcase our Asian capabilities yet still appeal to a global audience with the input from international guests and judges”

The series goes west through MYX TV and reveals an exciting look into the dynamic and trendsetting Asian fashion industry.

“We are pleased to add SUPERMODELME to MYX TV’s programming line-up as our first competition reality series,” said Miguel Santos, Associate General Manager for MYX TV. “We are always striving to give our viewers exciting new content not seen on other American networks and debuting this exciting new franchise in the United States is right in line with our programming goals.”

Special thanks to Digital Journal

Refinery Media’s team of Media Specialists brings forth the New Media forecast for 2012.

As a Digital Production Company specializing in Multi-platform content, Refinery Media’s team of Media Specialists ensures the Best for Tomorrow’s Media through the Strategic Integration of Traditional and New Media.

In 2011, social media had its share of growing pains. Large brands and corporations took to social media in force to try to find footing in this expanding medium. Some brands found success, while others found peril and new PR nightmares.

Since the online world is in a perpetual flux, here is a forecast for the social media landscape for 2012.

#1  Traditional TV to New Online TV

Alike Refinery Media productions, 2012 foresees an increasing amount of programmes that would be broadcast through online platforms. Such an example would be the popular American football competition, Super Bowl that would be streamed live and online to the world. Online TV content brings in the new dynamics of a digital component to advertising and social media integration.

#2  New media and TV Integration

In 2012, there will be an increase in social media integration in TV programming. A current example of social media is integrated into a traditional TV programme would be Refinery Media’s Supermodelme.

Starting off solely as an online TV show with its own Social Media Platform, Supermodelme features exciting content and unique programme features along with the incorporation of Hyperspotting and ‘branded content.’ As Asian pioneers of the use of Social Media tools to support Reality TV production in 2009, Season 1 proved to be a success and was eventually picked up by a cable TV network, where it was aired in 27 countries.

Building on the programme’s debut success, Season 2 spans traditional and emergent media to tell a new kind of story and delves further with a slew of dedicated content across numerous platforms and inked partnerships with Foursquare and Google’s Youtube.

2012 foresees a greater number and genre of programmes integrating social media content. Because social media played a pivotal role in the last Singapore elections (Please View Here) and the U.S Presidential elections (Please View Here), there will likely be further integrations in political broadcasts.

As each news channel fights hard to keep their viewers engaged, networks like CNN, BBC and Fox have made significant strides to engage their audience, although some would argue that this social media integration has come at the expense of hard-hitting journalism and analysis.

#3  Social Media ‘Boom’ for Companies

The way corporate entities approach social media is drastically shifting. Companies realize the importance of social media platforms. The creation of a Company Twitter, YouTube and Facebook account is no longer going to cut it as a full social media strategy. In 2012, companies will need to seriously shift their perspective by treating social channels more like communication channels and less like advertising channels. Some brands alike Refinery Media, have already made this transition. Others will have to in order to progress and stay successful.

#4 Better Integrated Campaigns

As social media continues to grow and flourish, Brands shift focus and get more social-savvy. Expect to see an increase in multi-platform marketing campaigns. Marketing campaigns will consist of the basic consistent Mass Marketing Messaging across platforms, to more complex, targeted marketing campaigns in which different mediums are messaged in coordination with each other. One of the keys to greater success in 2012 is to carefully strategise, intensify and grow the company through multi-platform marketing integration.

#5  Significant increase in Return of Investment

In 2012, the notion of engagement and personal communication will increasingly become an excepted metric.  Yes, ROI will still remain a key metric to any social media strategy but the adoption of social media will keep progressing and more companies will recognize the benefits and power of Social Media.

Social Media channels will increasingly impact all aspects of business. From customer service and Human Resource, to Finance, Sales, Operations and Legal, Social Media trends and applications will flourish to a significant extent. In 2012, it would be increasingly important for individuals and companies to understand the works of social media and how it affects their role and responsibilities. Opposite of television, social media is a dialogue vs. a monologue and if a brand is able to collect opinions real-time in high volume via social channels like Facebook polls and Twitter hash-tags, they can save a huge portion of their money that is currently set aside for formal research studies.

With globalisation and an increase in social interactions, billions of individuals from across the globe are now interconnected and linked to each other via Social Media. It is now irresponsible for any brand not to have some sort of presence online. 2012 will be the year for brands to go beyond cookie cutter campaigns and really determine how it not only adds value to their company, but how it adds value for their customers. 2012 will be crucial for Companies, Social Media and its impact.

#6  Battle for Social Supremacy- Facebook VS Google+

Alike the battle between Friendster and Facebook in 2006, 2012 brings forth a battle for Social Supremacy between Online Giants Google’s Google+ and 2011’s top social network, Facebook. 2012 sees the bitter rivals going head to head in a winner takes all contest. The launch of Google+ in 2011 put Facebook on notice for the stakes are high. Pressure of taking the lead put these two companies and their primary streams of revenue (ad dollars) at risk.

So what will 2012 bring? Will Google take it all or will current social media network giant, Facebook, continue to strive on and remain on top?