BB FANS

Reuters
Mon Nov 6, 2006 2:04 PM GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - The popular reality TV show Big Brother plans to expand into virtual reality with a new edition in the online world of Second Life, the Dutch unit of television programmer Endemol said on Monday.

Second Life is a three-dimensional virtual world with more than 1 million registered users and its own economy and currency. It was created by San Francisco-based Linden Lab.

Endemol will select 15 international Second Life contestants to spend at least eight hours a day inside a specially constructed glass-walled house for one month. As in the real-world version of Big Brother, the contestants will be voted off until only one remains.

The winner will receive a virtual island within Second Life, worth about US$1,675 (883 pounds).

"Big Brother Second Life represents a fantastic opportunity to amass knowledge of the virtual world. In the future, we will use this experience to develop specific content for online communities," said Endemol Netherlands Managing Director Paul Romer.

A number of real-world companies have entered Second Life in recent months, drawn by its rapid growth and large pool of tech-savvy consumers, including Toyota Motor Corp., Adidas AG and Sony BMG. Reuters Group Plc also recently launched its own news bureau in Second Life.

Big Brother enters virtual world

Contestants will spend at least eight hours a day on the virtual show
A version of the hit reality TV show Big Brother is to be staged in the online virtual world Second Life.

Fifteen international Second Life residents will occupy a glass house on the site, with each one being voted off over a month until a winner remains.

The final contestant will receive a virtual island within Second Life.

Second Life was set up in 2003 and has more than 1.2 million registered users. It has its own economy, and the virtual currency can be swapped for real money.

Paul Romer, managing director of Endemol Netherlands, said: "Big Brother Second Life represents a fantastic opportunity to amass knowledge of the virtual world.

"In the future, we will use this experience to develop specific content for online communities."

San Francisco-based Linden Lab, creators of Second Life, say the virtual world is growing by about 38% a month.

Companies including Toyota and Reuters have set up virtual presences within Second Life. BBC