News Round-Up (VI): Roku, Showtime, SyFy-IGN.com

Because the [itvt] editorial team has been on the road the past few weeks, we are covering recent news stories in summary/round-up form. We apologize for any inconvenience to our readers. We will resume our regular format and publishing schedule tomorrow (Tuesday).

• OTT specialist, Roku, has announced the launch of five more channels on its platform: Sunimi, Roxwel (free rock, metal and indie music videos), Spacevidcast (live and on-demand programming about human space flight), EZTakes (billed as an "eclectic collection of hard-to-find films"), and Break.com (comic videos). Meanwhile, blogger Dave Zatz has uncovered a "private" channel for accessing YouTube on the Roku platform.
• Showtime Networks has launched a three-screen interactive experience for its new Lesbian-themed unscripted series, "The Real L Word." "Reaching subscribers on every platform--through social networking sites including Twitter, Facebook and foursquare, online on SHO.com and Ustream, with on-air polls, and on mobile through 'The Real L Word' iPhone application--each week fans of the series will have an opportunity to share their comments and participate in the ultimate fan party with the ladies of 'The Real L Word,'" the broadcaster states in its press materials. "Before and during each episode of 'The Real L Word'...fans can share their comments and get a behind-the-scenes look at the series, as the cast and producers join the 'Real L Word' Live Lounge providing live commentary on SHO.com/livelounge, Twitter and Facebook from 9:30 to 11PM ET. Then, following each episode, viewers can stay with Showtime for an online after-party video chat with one of the cast members from the series, where they can share their questions and comments live (11PM ET). The Live Lounge gives Showtime viewers a unique three-screen experience, with on-air polls, questions being fed live on set from the network's Web site, through mobile applications, and through social networking sites. The 'Real L Word' Live Lounge video chats will stream on SHO.com/livelounge and Ustream, and will be accessible from The 'Real L Word' Facebook page. The weekly video chats are hosted by Natalie Garcia, an 'online only' cast member of 'The Real L Word,' whose story will be shown exclusively through weekly webisodes on SHO.com. Showtime developed a custom iPhone application in support of 'The Real L Word' providing fans with an opportunity to connect with the series and interact with other fans in a variety of ways all via their mobile phones--they can watch sneak peek clips of the upcoming week's episode, read the ladies' blog updates, contribute to the show's Facebook page, or follow the cast and series on Twitter (@SHO_realLword). Viewers can use the location-based feature of the app to check in to locations featured on the series or those recommended by the ladies of 'The Real L Word' through the power of foursquare and with reviews and perks from BlackBook of the hottest shops, spas, restaurants and nightlife in major cities around the country. Fans can also directly connect with 'The Real L Word' on foursquare at http://foursquare.com/RealLWord by following the account and checking into locations that have tips from the show's cast. After three check-ins to 'The Real L Word' locations, users will unlock the 'Club L' badge."
• Scifi channel, Syfy, has teamed with IGN.com to launch an online production site, dubbed B Movie Mogul, that is billed as allowing viewers to build--from start to finish--a movie that will air on Syfy next year. "B Movie Mogul allows users to select everything from the movie concept, title, creatures, wardrobe, dialogue and promotional taglines to how a character gets killed--even the character's final words!," the companies state in their press materials. "Online 'producers' will also have access to development and production meetings through updates written by both IGN and Syfy executives, as well as being the first to see initial creature designs and artwork." B Movie Mogul launched on Saturday with a six-week voting period, in which viewers are invited to choose between three initial story concepts--"Bermuda Triangle," "Roswell" and "2012." The winning concept will be announced August 14th. "Once the movie has been chosen," SyFy and IGN.com say, "fans will continue creating the movie by selecting specific details about character and plot, revising these broad concepts to provide a fresh perspective on these genre staples."