Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV) is proud to announce that two programs which were produced in collaboration with Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) have won the Social TV Award 2013 Grand Prize. The programs were titled "TV60 NHK × NTV Best of 60 Competition" and "TV60 NTV × NHK Best of 60 Competition" and were aired on February 1st and 2nd, 2013, respectively.

The Social TV Award 2013 gives recognition to TV programs that utilize social media, smart phones, tablets, and datacasting to develop shows that deliver an innovative viewer program participation experience, multifaceted information exchange, and viewer community creation. It is organized jointly by Nikkei Digital Marketing, a cross-media information source on cutting-edge marketing approaches, and Nikkei Entertainment!, an entertainment information magazine. Both are owned by Nikkei Business Publications.

The grand prize winning program "TV60 NTV × NHK Best of 60 Competition" was produced jointly by NTV and NHK to commemorate the 60th anniversary of both broadcasters. NTV and NHK used this landmark occasion to design the future of television and enable the public to experience the opportunities that lie ahead.

Throughout the entire program, viewers were able to communicate their approval or satisfaction by tapping the "Like" button, which was displayed on the datacast screen and on the website for smart phones. The total number of "Likes" was graphed and displayed simultaneously on the viewers' screens and in the live studio. Cast and audience shared in the excitement of this fresh concept as they shaped the course of the program together. Viewers influenced the program by conveying their level of satisfaction throughout the show. With no way of predicting how audience satisfaction will trend, the cast were on the edge of their seats as they monitored the "Likes" and responded accordingly. In total, the "Like" button was tapped approximately 19 million times during both days.

In another initiative called "24-Hour Drama Battle", NTV and NHK each put together a production team that competed over a 24-hour timeframe to create a short drama. Announcers from both broadcasters delivered behind-the-scenes footage and commentary of the battle. "24-Hour Drama Battle" was streamed live on the internet and was viewed by close to 100,000 people.

Recognizing that more and more people watch TV while using Facebook and Twitter on their smart phone, we at NTV developed programs that use the latest technology to further strengthen our relationship with viewers, in hopes of discovering new opportunities in television.

Indeed, NTV's efforts received high recognition, culminating in the Social TV Award 2013 Grand Prize.

The awards ceremony was held on July 23, 2013. Attending the ceremony were Mr. Taichi Masu, NTV announcer, Ms. Yumiko Udo, NHK announcer, and Ms. Toko Takeuchi, NHK announcer.

Announcers from NTV and NHK attend the awards ceremony.
From left, Ms. Yumiko Udo (NHK), Ms. Toko Takeuchi (NHK), Mr. Taichi Masu (NTV)

Program Details:

"Like" button, displayed on smart phone screen.