DirecTV, Havoc Team on Interactive TV Program, “Havoc on The 101″

–Viewers’ Text Messages Determine Program’s Schedule of Music Videos

Directvhavoca2007 Satellite TV provider, DirecTV, is teaming with Havoc, a multiplatform programmer that specializes in indie music and action sports, to offer an interactive program on DirecTV’s original entertainment channel, Channel 101. Entitled “Havoc on The 101,” the new program features music videos from indie bands and action sports clips. Viewers are invited to use their mobiles to text in votes, which determine the show’s video line-up in real time. In addition, the show allows viewers to “chat” by texting in messages that appear on the left side of the screen as the videos play (note: the show’s SMS voting and chatting functionality is available to subscribers of a number of wireless carriers, including Cingular, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint). The show offers a total of 28 hours of programming every week, consisting of four daily, hour-long episodes each dedicated to a different music genre. Viewers can access its video line-ups in a dedicated area of Havoc’s Web site (havoctv.com/101). “DirecTV loves music and The 101 already has one of the largest line-ups of live music programming in the US, so it’s no surprise that we are now adding to that leadership position by partnering with Havoc TV,” Eric Shanks, DirecTV’s EVP of entertainment, said in a prepared statement (note: for an in-depth interview with Shanks, see [itvt] Issue 6.99). “Now music fans have the power to decide what they want to watch, when they want to watch it. With this addition to the line-up, The 101 now dominates the competition with the largest selection of interactive music programming in the country as well.”