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AOL Announces New Online Progamming

Digital Trends Staff
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AOL today previewed five new programs which will debut on the online network mainly this fall. These programs are being developed in conjunction with media entertainment companies such as Mark Burnett, DreamWorks Animation, Endemol, Madison Road Entertainment, Stone & Co and Telepictures.

Here’s a breakdown of the new programming as detailed by AOL in a press release:

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“Ye Olde Shrek the Third Royal Tournament” – Based on the Shrek the Third movie, this lets online fans play 25 Shrek games over a six-week period. Every day, AOL will feature new challenges, activities, news, downloads and more. It launches April 26 ‘07, three weeks before the movie hits theaters. The game is co-produced by AOL, DreamWorks Animation and Mark Burnett Productions (Survivor, The Apprentice).

“Gold Rush Goes Hollywood” – AOL and Mark Burnett Productions deliver an addictive follow-up to last year’s hit game show. Players compete in daily pop culture trivia games for cash prizes. Finalists face off in a real-life hunt through Hollywood for a million dollars in gold. The original Gold Rush attracted nearly 11 million users and five blue chip sponsors.Gold Rush returns in Q3 ’07.

“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” Tie-in – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” comes to AOL in a unique cross-platform collaboration that lets people share heartwarming, hilarious and absurd hometown tales online that will be featured on a recurring segment on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” Created in partnership with Telepictures Productions, it launches Q4 ‘07.

“Million Dollar Bill” – You may already have a winning ticket in your wallet! Contestants play daily online games to reveal serial numbers of U.S. dollar bills in active circulation. Top players compete on TV, and viewers at home play along for a chance to win a million dollars. It launches Q1 ’08. The program is co-produced by AOL, Madison Road Entertainment, Stone & Co. and Viewer Rewards.

“iLand” – The competition begins with an extensive online phase and really heats up when finalists move to a remote island to set up a community. The online community interacts to shape the outcome, helping (or hindering) the iLanders as they vie for the grand prize – winning their own tropical island. Created by Endemol (Deal or No Deal, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Fear Factor and Big Brother), iLand launches Q2 ‘08.

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