Inter Medya Gets Interactive to Launch Join Instant at MIPFormats

Inter Medya held a special launch for the interactive quiz show Join Instant today in Cannes, with Melih Bas, the creator of the format, leading the audience through the second-screen gameplay that resulted in one lucky winner taking home a brand-new MacBook Pro.

The format, which was recently optioned in India and Pakistan, features second-screen technology that brings at-home audiences into the action. “The technology isn’t just applicable for Join Instant; it can be applied to any format, live broadcast or tape,” said Bas.

While watching TV, viewers are also connected to the show via a computer or mobile device using the internet. “You can play the game as if you were inside the studio but from the comfort of your home,” Bas noted.

“This game show enables viewers at home to participate live in the competition. The entire nation can play from anywhere to win the big prize, and you play against each other. Everything happens in real time.”

Bas pointed out that a participant only needs to register once, at JoinInstant.com, and will use the same login to return each time.

As for why the show stands out from other interactive quiz formats on the market, Baz said: “The software’s operating system is a simultaneous web-based technology. The game is played live, and results are displayed instantaneously on the studio screen. The software also has an elimination system. Most other quiz shows have a system that even with the wrong answer you move on; with our system, you get eliminated. With every correct answer, you move forward for the next question; with the wrong answer, you are out.”

Over the course of about 25 questions in a one-hour episode, the contestants are whittled down. The game ends with an estimation question, and the player with the answer nearest to the actual amount is the winner.

Baz explained that a benefit for broadcasters is the “big data that can be used for marketing analysis. Usually, a marketing-research company takes 50 days to do the research on 5,000 people; we do it in one second. Our technology can count up to 5 million [people], and this is just for now.”

He said that in addition to Join Instant being an entertaining play-along show, it is a powerful marketing and content-creation tool. “Each participant’s profile holds interesting information that can be important for sponsors. Join Instant is not just a game show; it’s so much more!”

Following a brief presentation, the MIPFormats audience was invited to log in and participate in the game. After about seven rounds of questions and the final estimation-based elimination, the winning audience member went on stage to claim the prize of a MacBook Pro.