Reality downloaded

A reality show on the Internet is on. The youth social networking site, Campus18, recently launched India's first ever Internet reality show Digistars - War of the Videos. Target group The show is a nationwide hunt for talent in filmmaking, acting, editing and story writing.

The best three-minute original video will win the top honour. Besides receiving a cash prize of ₹25,000, its director will become part of a team which will create India's first Internet serial.

Punit Johar, founder and MD, Campus18, says, 'Normally, fancier contests would not pick up the creative efforts of so many students.'

Like all popular reality shows on television, an audience vote will decide the winner.

There's no age restriction but a majority of entries are expected from the 18-25 age group. To advertise on the show, youth addas are being targeted.

Over 100 sites already have advertisements of the contest. Entries came in from December 12 and have crossed 200 submissions. This will continue till January 16. There will be a star judge for the celebrity quotient.

Johar plans to organise more such Net shows, including competitions on writing and photography.

Show must go on
The number of youth networking sites which have mushroomed recently clearly indicates the considerable financial investment in this space.

Johar refuses to reveal figures for the current project but does state that plans are on to invest nearly ₹3 crore shortly.