Nissan Reality TV show on Speed Channel

[audtatious]

09.15.2011, FRANKLIN, Tenn.
NISSAN BRINGS THE NEXT LEVEL OF INNOVATIVE MARKETING BY PRODUCING A REALITY TV SHOW LAUNCHING SEPTEMBER 20 ON SPEED

Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA), in collaboration with Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) and Polyphony Digital Inc., today announced the premiere of GT Academy USA, a reality show that takes 16 Gran Turismo 5 gamers and gives them a chance to become a professional race car driver. The program will be featured as a five-part reality series on SPEED TV beginning September 20.

This is beyond your dream job. Can a video game develop the skills needed to become a professional racecar driver? To find out, Nissan has brought America's fastest 16 out of nearly 54,000 Gran Turismo 5 gamers who participated in a National tournament and thrown them into a competition for a shot at becoming a motorsports professional. England's legendary Silverstone Circuit is the battleground for these contestants as they clash in challenges on and off the racetrack. Judging them along the way are some of the biggest names in motorsports: Danny Sullivan, Tommy Kendall and Liz Halliday.

GT Academy USA is divided into three phases: tournament, driver development and reality show. Content is collected from each phase and is culminated with a reality show scheduled to air on SPEED, which will announce the season one winner of GT Academy USA. The five-part episode will make its debut on September 20. Originally launched in Europe in 2009, GT Academy USA is being brought to the U.S. for the first time. GT Academy USA was built and adapted to appeal to the local audience for racing and gaming, while maintaining the universality of its promise to take a fan’s dream of racing to another dimension.

370z nissan road course“GT Academy USA will create a life changing experience for gamers, celebrating the authenticity of Gran Turismo 5 for Sony PlayStation, and real life racing and performance, innovation for Nissan,” said Jon Brancheau, vice president of marketing for Nissan North America, Inc. “GT Academy USA is a mesh of gaming, branded entertainment, and social media, all designed to entertain, engage, and reward the audience across multiple platforms from gaming consoles to social networks and primetime.” GT Academy USA digital efforts spanned across several auto and gaming enthusiast sites and a custom Nissan site. To maximize excitement around the tournament we created a custom GT Academy USA driving tips and sign up process video.

Additional info plus Episode 1 teaser: Nissan Reality TV

[Jesda]

Now get them to live together and do catty things

[OriginalWheelman]

Cool, the best drivers that could afford a PS3 get a chance to become professionals.

[audtatious]

We need the Gov to interject and make sure every citizen has access to a game console.

[300ZXttZMAN]

That pretty crazy.. Definatly interesting

[audtatious]

Wonder how we missed all this going on because it would have been cool to have some NICO gamers involved

[Jesda]

I'd lay the smackdown in a Simcity or Capitalism II competition.


Racing games are for invalids!

[MinisterofDOOM]

I'd lay the smackdown in a Simcity or Capitalism II competition.


Racing games are for invalids!

Make it X-Com and you're on. My earth defense directorate runs smooth like a Lexus V8.

[Dittoz7]

Wonder how we missed all this going on because it would have been cool to have some NICO gamers involved

I believe the seasonal events which get updated recently during online game was the way to get in. They basically had a race where you had to run a certain time with a car they gave you. If you made the cut, the next event race be a bit harder so on so on....

I could of sworn they cancelled the US version of this. They had it for the UK and the kids is doing pretty good, think they put him on a Acura LMP team.

Don't think they made a tv show about tho...should be interesting.

[audtatious]

It's on in 3 days so we will surely see