Oh Brother! Playing Peek-a-boo on the Web
There's been a lot of talk for years about the convergence of TV and the Internet…how the two mediums can compliment each other. Like it or not…the best example going is CBS TV's Big Brother. Those cameras and microphones capturing every move and word aren't just for a TV audience. A lot of people who can't get enough are following along on the Web and on America Online. In fact, says AOL's director of special programming Heather Perram…
"It is the biggest site, certainly, that we have ever produced in programming her on America Online."
The Web site at Bigbrother2000.com and AOL key word Big Brother, let Net users view different live camera views of what is going on inside the house…complete with sound. There's even a camera trained on a chicken coop…and, says Perram, it's not exactly laying an egg…
"The chickens have a very surprising following. There are chicken fans and the chickens do have a definite following."
AOL has set up news and chat rooms for fans. So what's going on here?
"I think that it appeals to the voyeur in a lot of us, I certainly wouldn't say all of us."
Enough so AOL has set up a chat area to give support to people who can't tear themselves away. You can find us on the Web at Bootcamp.com. Bootcamp, I'm Fred Fishkin for CBS News.