Wannabe Petes or Nikkis will be able to upload a video clip to the channel's revived website E4.com, giving reasons as to why they should star in the eighth season of 'Big Brother'. The auditions, which will be rated by other users and studied by producers Endemol and Channel 4 commissioning editors, with at least one online applicant guaranteed a place in the 'Big Brother' house.
The 'Big Brother' feature follows a similar path to YouTube and MySpace by offering users the chance to become instant celebrities with their homemade videos, which they can post on E4.com.
Andy Duncan, chief executive of Channel 4, said: "E4 already has a powerful connection with younger audiences and looms large in their media consumption habits.
"These viewers are the first generation to grow up with the internet and they are driving the phenomenal growth of social networking online and of user generated content as a mainstream entertainment medium. We think it's a perfect platform to launch this initiative and propel Channel 4 into one of digital media's fastest growing market places."
had been mothballed since 2002 following the website's integration with parent site but will now be relaunched as a standalone website.
Danny Cohen, head of E4, said: "We think our plans for E4.com open up an even easier route into the 'Big Brother' auditions process and will encourage a new wave of applicants to join Britain's most famous house."
In addition to online BB auditions, E4.com will also feature programming information, news and gossip from E4's hit TV shows 'Desperate Housewives', 'Ugly Betty' and 'The O.C.'
Users will be able to create personalised web pages where they can participate in chat discussions, upload their content and rate submissions from other users.
Already the most popular digital TV channel with young audiences in the UK, E4 has a 3.8% share of all viewing by 16- to 34-year-olds in digital TV so far this year.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .
.jpg)
.jpg)