The Empire will "project" players into the studio

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Reality TV producer Michael Davies, the man behind "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," is developing a quiz show that would allow hundreds of thousands of viewers to play simultaneously via cell phone, land line or the Internet.

"The Empire" will "project" players into the studio -- either through their Internet profile or through live video via proprietary technology developed by Davies' partner on the venture, U.K.-based Fluorescent Media.

"I've been waiting for someone to crack the multiplatform game show for a decade, and this is far beyond what I could have imagined," Davies said. "It is young, visual, dynamic and frankly, revolutionary."

Davies plans to pitch "The Empire" to the networks in early December. While the networks are looking for more unscripted fare to fill the gap left by the writers strike, Davies called the timing unfortunate.

"One of things I find sad is that so much of the alternative business is focused around strike contingency, and this show has nothing to do with the strike," Davies said. "This is a ground-breaking show that is good to enough to get on the air at any time."

In addition to the weekly TV show, "Empire" will feature a 24/7 Internet component building up to the live broadcast.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter