14 DAY TRIAL // Without naming them, Sony Ericsson has just announced that six young female WTA players will star in the Xperia Hot Shots entertainment show, which will be streamed online and on mobile handsets
The new series is expected to be aired from March and is supposed to follow the lives of six aspiring stars of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) as they try to get a support deal with WTA sponsor brand, Sony Ericsson.
Furthermore, the Xperia Hot Shots show gives a behind-the-scenes look, as well as a glimpse of some of the girls' lives off-court.
The main goal of the show is to help the players fulfill their dreams by giving them exclusive access to the worlds of music, film, gaming and fashion, thus growing their online fan base.
Stephan Croix, VP, Head of Global Marketing Partnerships at Sony Ericsson said, “At Sony Ericsson we love tennis, and with Xperia Hot Shots we’re bringing entertainment in to this world, making it even more appealing to youth audiences globally.”
“We’re taking cues from reality TV and are combining it with edgy and exciting entertainment to create a pioneering new genre of online TV show that innovates in the world of sport,” he added.
The six female WTA players will be watched during prestigious tennis tournaments including Miami, Wimbledon, Beijing and others.
In addition, the show will be a fully interactive program and streamed on YouTube where viewers will be able to watch as the girls are using their Sony Ericsson Xperia handsets to film their own content, share it and interact with their fans on Facebook and other social networks.
Launching the show in Melbourne ahead of the first Grand Slam of the season, WTA icon and most followed female athlete in the world, Maria Sharapova, said: “I’m excited to be here at the launch because I think it’s great for the players, the sport and viewers alike. Sony Ericsson is bringing entertainment to the game as only they can".
“The show will provide an opportunity for the players to attract new fans in a way that has never been done before. I wish I’d had access to this when starting out as it brings entertainment in to our world of tennis, as well as a chance to interact with fans,” added Sharapova.
The Xperia Hot Shots show will go live on YouTube in March 2011.