C4 launches UK's first play along mobile app, The Million Pound Drop

7 June 2012

Channel 4 today announces The Million Pound Drop mobile app, which will launch on iOS and Android, featuring a brand new Play Any Time Game as well as a Play Along Game.

The mobile app was created by producers of The Million Pound Drop Live, Remarkable Television, an Endemol company and was developed by dual screen technology pioneers Monterosa. The Million Pound Drop is the first mobile play along app available in the UK and follows the hugely successful online play along game.

The iOS version of the app will launch in time for the return of The Million Pound Drop Live TV series in June, Android will follow. Both will be available to download for free, featuring two game modes - Play Along and Play Any Time. The Play Any Time game is an exciting new game mode which can be purchased from within the free app for £1.49. The game features more than 700 questions including 250 brand new questions researched especially for the app, plus questions included in the 2010 and 2011 TV series. Users can purchase subsequent packs of 250 questions, under topics such as ‘TV & Film Buff' and ‘Sports Fan' for 69p.

The new game mode puts players in the driving seat of the game any time they choose, with new options, animations and audio score, to help ramp up the tension. The game features an all-new achievement system, and social sharing via Facebook and Twitter.

The iOS version of the app will launch with a complete set of features, while the Android version will launch with the Play Along game - the Play Any Time game will be delivered via an Android app update after the new series has launched.

The Million Pound Drop mobile app was commissioned by Jody Smith, Channel 4's Multiplatform Commissioning Editor for Entertainment and Comedy.

Jody said: "I'm pleased we're taking the UK's most successful play along show to an even bigger audience, by launching on smart phones. We're expecting to reach even higher numbers, because pretty much everyone watches TV with their phone or tablet to hand. A lot of effort was put into the new Play Any Time game mode, to make the experience slick, exciting and worth paying for."

David Flynn, creator of The Million Pound Drop Live said: "The Million Pound Drop has been groundbreaking in bringing simultaneous play along to a mass audience. Now with our mobile app even more people can join in, and with the Play Any Time game you'll be able to hone your skills to give you the best possible chance of beating the Drop."

Simon Brickle, Managing Director, Monterosa said: "The Million Pound Drop has become a global standard for real time social interactivity with television. Now the new mobile apps are taking a big leap forward by combining tactile touch-screen gameplay with a new paid content business model. We're proud to be delivering another groundbreaking UK-originated second screen TV project."