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CBS, Eqal prep multi-platform drama CBS has revealed the first fruits of its first-look deal with cross-platform production company Eqal in the form of Harper's Island (13x60'), a primetime mystery series launching in April. Before the premiere of the primetime series, CBS and Eqal will launch Harper's Globe, a website hosting original social show episodes that will complement the TV storyline, with overlapping characters, locations and plots that continue to evolve throughout the first season of the TV show. In addition to being available on HarpersGlobe.com, all content will be available at CBS.com, on CBS Mobile and across the CBS Audience Network. "Putting CBS Interactive together with Eqal gives the show an innovative and entertaining online presence a full three weeks before they launch the on-air programme," said the show's executive producer, Jon Turteltaub. "The multi-platform, interactive elements at Harpersglobe.com expand the whole experience of our show, which I feel is beyond necessary in the world of such rapidly changing media. We have to make our show an internet event, as well as a broadcast TV event." The online social show will launch on March 18 - several weeks prior to the broadcast premiere of Harper's Island on April 9 at 22.00 - and will co-exist with the weekly TV show, concluding with the broadcast finale on July 2. The plot involves a group of family and friends travelling to a secluded island for a destination wedding. Things turn sour as a serial killer attacks, and in every episode someone is killed - casting suspicion on everyone from the wedding party to the island locals. By the end of the 13 episodes, all questions will be answered and the killer will be revealed, with only a few characters surviving. "The best shows on television are those that leave you wanting more at the closing credits each week," said Miles Beckett, CEO of Eqal. "By bringing together the unique elements of both media, we're able to extend and amplify the Harper's Island experience to engage fans in a whole new way." The show is Eqal's first proper TV effort to date, following previous web efforts such as Lonelygirl15 and KateModern. The news comes a week after it unveiled LG15: The Show Is Yours, a pilot submission scheme giving fans the chance to create the next series in the Lonelygirl franchise. In addition to collaborating with CBS on the writing, producing and directing all of the social show content, Eqal will also help provide the technology infrastructure to host the social show, which includes built-in interactive and community elements. "It's not a pre-requisite to go online in order to follow the series on-air, but those who do will have an authentic entertainment experience that drills deeper into the mythology and mystery happening on Harper's Island," said Nancy Tellem, president of CBS Paramount Network Television Entertainment Group. "Since the pilot phase, the writers have been working with our colleagues at Eqal and CBS Interactive to make Harper's Globe a destination that is a unique yet faithful connection to the television series, while sustaining the curiosity and conversation before and between episodes." Jon Turteltaub (Jericho) and Jeffrey Bell (Alias, Angel) are exec producers for CBS Paramount Network Television in association with Junction Entertainment. Karim Zreik (Jericho), Dan Shotz (Jericho) and Tyler Bensinger (Cold Case) are co-exec producers and Ari Schlossberg (Hide And Seek) co-executive producer and creator. The social show episodes are executive produced by Miles Beckett and Greg Goodfried, co-founders of Eqal, and Matt Seigel, co-exec produced by James Sterling, directed by Tony Valenzuela and written by Jennifer Yale. Adam Benzine 14 Jan 2009 © C21 Media 2009 
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