Reality Series Shines Spotlight on Entrepreneurial Media Company, ReacTV

Reality Series Shines Spotlight on Entrepreneurial Media Company, ReacTV

Program Will Capture ReacTV's Voyage from Business Idea to Reality

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- ReacTV has been selected as the first company to be featured in a new reality series highlighting the risks and thrills of launching an entrepreneurial venture. The series, titled "Start Up," delivers behind-the-scenes footage of the fast-paced decision making, strategic thinking and hard work that bring big ideas to life. The series will be the first to showcase a new genre of reality TV programming -- "reality business" -- as it profiles real companies, real executives and real- time true stories behind business success or failure.

"Start Up" follows the ReacTV team as it launches its new cable television network, which features reactive programming and ads that allow viewers to compete for thousands of dollars in prizes each hour. Cameras shadow company executives in crucial meetings and behind closed doors to document ReacTV's metamorphosis as it happens. The 13-week series will capture the company's debut at the National Cable and Telecommunications Association trade show in Atlanta and its official launch in July 2006.

"It's exciting to be part of a truly unique project and a new TV genre at the beginning of its existence. This show will bring reality television to St. Petersburg for the first time, exposing a whole new audience to this vibrant city's lifestyle and culture," says Frank S. Maggio, ReacTV's founder and chairman. "The goal is to demonstrate what creative people can accomplish in real settings. We want to inspire viewers and give them courage to go after their dreams."

Director and executive producer John Biffar, together with executive producer Tod Dahlke, came up with the reality series idea after realizing that Americans were starting businesses in record numbers, yet receiving little real-world guidance on how to succeed from existing business programming. "Shows like 'The Apprentice' are the opposite of reality programming. Teams and situations are manufactured by the producers. The resources given to each team are limited. Operating in the real world is completely different. Opportunities, challenges and resources are dynamic, and they demand consistent, savvy leadership," says Dahlke.

Biffar, who gained firsthand entrepreneurial experience when starting his production company, Dreamtime Entertainment, gravitated to ReacTV's story because of its David-and-Goliath appeal and the maverick vision of its founder. "The cable television industry is intensely competitive with a lot of big players. ReacTV is a small company with strong leadership, a smart team, a brilliant patent and financial stability," says Biffar. "The founder is a very interesting character. He's honest and has a huge vision. It seems as though his team would do anything for him. Whether he's right or wrong, it's going to make for great drama."

Production for the first season of Start Up is underway in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is expected to wrap in August.

About ReacTV

ReacTV is America's first TV InterNetwork, delivering a reactive television and simulcast Internet experience, embedded with reactive advertising. The ReacTV gaming network allows viewers at home to compete for thousands of dollars in prizes each hour, simply by interacting with challenging games and rewarding ads. ReacTV has exclusively licensed the patented CR.V Reactive Ad System, enabling advertisers to create a new level of consumer awareness through reactive advertising. ReacTV ( http://www.reactv.com/ and http://www.77.tv/ ) is owned and founded by real estate and new media magnate Frank Maggio, and is an entity of The Frank Maggio Companies.

About John Biffar/Dreamtime Entertainment

Mr. Biffar and the staff of Dreamtime Entertainment ( http://www.dreamtimeentertainment.com/ ) have produced award-winning documentaries, series programs and feature films. "Captiva Island" the company's first feature film, won a Silver Telly award and aired on HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Encore and Starz networks. "Children of the Fourth World," a documentary 10 years in the making, originally aired on PBS, went on to win four regional Emmy Awards, as well as the First Place Gold Camera Award and Best Documentary Award in 1999. The year 2000 marked the release of Biffar's documentary "Uncommon Friends," which won the Wolfson Television Award and was considered for an Academy Award. His most recent documentary, "The Nazi Plan to Bomb New York," aired as an episode for History Undercover on the History Channel in early 2003.

About Tod Dahlke

Tod Dahlke has been working as a freelance producer on shows such as "The Mole," "America's Next Top Model" and MTV's "Fear," and has created, sold and produced numerous shows including FX's "The Hitchhiker Chronicles" and Fox's "The Billionaire" starring Richard Branson. He began his television career at Bunim-Murray Productions in 1996. During his five years with the company, Tod worked on MTV's "The Real World," "Road Rules," "Real World/All Star Challenges" and other various pilots. Today Tod continues to create, develop and pitch new formats to the networks.

Source: ReacTV

CONTACT: Alisa Jenkins, Springboard Strategies, +1-727-524-9696, or
mobile, +1-727-488-9393, or ajenkins@springboarding.com, for ReacTV; or Dawn
Dixon, Communications Director, ReacTV, at The NCTA National Show through
April 11, mobile, +1-727-776-0025, or dd@fmtvi.com

Web site: http://www.reactv.com/
http://www.77.tv/
http://www.dreamtimeentertainment.com/

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Profile: intent