Situated about a mile from the convention center is Skype’s brand new custom-built trailer where people can stop by to use Skype and lounge around. To celebrate Comic-Con, the company had West Coast Customs (WCC), the car design shop that started Pimp My Ride on MTV, build the trailer. We spoke to Skype’s TV consultant Jason Kahn and WCC’s Founder and CEO Ryan Friedlinghaus about social TV and their custom trailer in San Diego.
Skype’s footprint on TV:
Skype doesn’t get as much attention for the work they do on TV as say Twitter, but the free calling and video provider has invested a ton of resources in getting Skype on hundreds of news and entertainment programs around the globe. Different from Twitter, they can’t just encourage TV to use Skype and talk about the benefits (free calling, access to individuals that don’t have satellite feeds but have wifi), they need to also make sure the TV networks are educated on how to ensure their internet connection is secure enough to handle seamless Skype. We spoke to Kahn who works with TV partners to advise on how Skype can enhance the content, including building social elements into the production:
Using Skype on TV goes beyond guests calling in on news programs. For Showtime’s second season of Web Therapy, Lisa Kudrow counsels her clients via Skype. There’s also Jimmy Kimmel Live’s Skype Scavenger Hunt and scripted shows Covert Affairs, White Collar, Parenthood and Hot In Cleveland. Skype is making technology, on often ignored reality on TV, funny and organic.
West Coast Customs growth on social:
West Coast Customs became famous when their shop was featured on MTV’s Pimp My Ride. Since the show ended, his car shop has grown tremendously and he now has a show, “Inside West Coast Customs” on Velocity, Discovery’s car channel. We interviewed Friedlinghaus about using social media, being a TV show creator and how his business has built up their following on social to compliment their fame on other channels.
Update: We said earlier that “West Coast Customs” designed the trailer, but reMADE, a design agency based in NYC, was responsible. West Coast Customs built the lounge.