It’s a reality show at WNBC-DT2’s NBC New York Nonstop channel: “The Great American Health Challenge” is a new “docu-reality” series that calls upon participants from the five boroughs to complete a series of “healthy” tasks that might include: nutrition, physical activity, smoking cessation, mental health, sleeping better, etc. The series will reflect the diverse community that comprises New York City and award a prize to the team that helps to activate the “healthiest” borough.
Hosted by NBC 4 New York’s reporter Lauren Scala, the 30-minute series premiered locally on NBC New York Nonstop on 5/4. It airs Wednesdays at 9:30PM with repeats on Wednesday, 3-3:30am, Saturdays 11-11:30am (prior week), 11:30-12N, 6-6:30pm and Sundays 10-10:30am (prior week), 10:30-11am, 8-8:30pm.
Episodes will be supported on-screen in NYC taxis and NJ PATH trains. Highlights from the show will air once a month on NBC 4 in May, June and July. The show will also boast a heavy social media component that will work in concert with content, allowing the audience to interact with, cheer for and vote on their favorite contestants, as well as view out takes from the show.
NBC New York recently launched the Go Healthy New York campaign, a multi-tiered marketing campaign encouraging New Yorkers to make healthier choices to help achieve a healthier lifestyle. As part of the initiative, NBC New York produced 12 episodes of The Great American Health Challenge in partnership with Union Square Agency (USSE Corp) and Encompass Media. The series will encourage viewers of all ages and backgrounds to make informed decisions about health, lead healthier lives and spread the word to their fellow New Yorkers.
The first episode introduced host Lauren Scala who explained the series and challenges. The hosts will follow the casting of the show where 15 contestants from the five boroughs are selected and placed into five competing teams. The first episode introduced the teams and individual contestants who set personal goals for them and their team. The hosts also gave the teams their series challenge as well as some coaching tips.
The Great American Health Challenge will follow the key team members in real time as the audience gets to know the personalities of the contestants and can support their favorite.
From day-to-day living to day-to-day training, the compelling series will document what it takes for these teams to pull off the titles of “Healthiest Borough” and promote good health and wellness. Celebrities, athletes, industry experts and New York personalities will make special guest appearances throughout the series. Viewers can participate by earning points for their favorite borough by completing health challenges on their own via the Great American Health Challenge: NYC tab on facebook.com/GoHealthyNY. Viewers can also get weekly team results, preview upcoming shows, and get to know the contestants via their personal blogs.
The series will also include partners of the Go Healthy New York campaign such as GE, Whole Foods Market, Bed Bath & Beyond (with its partners Carpenter Co. and Sleepbetter.org), Mount Sinai, The Vision Council, Walgreens and Chelsea Piers. The contestants will take home prizes provided by Xbox 360 Kinect, Crunch Gyms, Spaweek.com, Pirate’s Booty, Chelsea Piers, Chop’t Creative Salad, Bed Bath & Beyond and the grand prize from Miraval Arizona Resort and Spa.
RBR-TVBR observation: As we’ve said before, and this is just more evidence: These hyper-local multicast channels allow NBC stations to super-serve their local audiences and create a variety of content and revenue opportunities as well—we’re not talking infomercials here. This program alone on NY Nonstop obviously is attracting advertisers easily from the Go Healthy New York campaign. So go local, go local with your multicast channels if possible!
