Oxygen Announces User-Generated Video Series BEST INK: SKIN STORIES

Related: Oxygen

Oxygen Media, in association with Youtoo Technologies, announced today a unique user-generated video series, BEST INK: SKIN STORIES , which brings the stories behind fans' favorite tattoos to life, in anticipation of the network's tattoo competition series "Best Ink," premiering its second season on Wednesday, April 3, at 10 PM ET/PT.

Viewers can visit http://best-ink.oxygen.com/skin-stories or https://www.facebook.com/bestinkoxygen to record a 30-second video testimonial that tells the story behind their favorite ink. Fans can then share their videos with friends on social networks, as well as watch other video submissions. Each week one video will be featured as the "Skin of the Week" on Oxygen.com. In addition, "Best Ink" host and Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz, along with the show's judges, Joe Capobianco, Sabina Kelley, and Hannah Aitchison, will vote on their favorite story to determine which video will be shown on-air during the show's season finale on Oxygen. In order to be considered, video submissions must be received by Monday, June 3, 6 PM ET/PT.

"We are excited to be the first network to integrate YouToo's interactive technology across episodes of multiple franchises," said Harleen Kahlon, Senior Vice President of Digital Media for Oxygen. "With our 'Best Ink' initiative YouToo enables us to give viewers a unique opportunity to show off their ink and share their tattoo stories with one another on Oxygen.com and on-air."

YouToo's ground breaking technology powers live social TV experiences via second screen devices. Fans can participate in quizzes and polls, social conversations, and UGC video campaigns - and the resulting results, commentary, and video are displayed live on air.

"We are thrilled Oxygen Media has chosen Youtoo Technologies to provide complete viewer interaction for such a compelling show," said Chris Wyatt, Chief Executive Officer of Youtoo Technologies.

Oxygen is also bringing "Best Ink: Skin Stories" to the streets with an on-the-ground activation at various tattoo conventions and events across the United States. Fans can record their personal tattoo stories in a video booth for inclusion in the "Best Ink: Skin Stories" and then show off their favorite tattoos in a photo booth where they will receive a shareable animated GIF and a branded personal photo to take home.

"BEST INK: SKIN STORIES" LOCATIONS AND DATES:

6th Annual MusInk Tattoo Convention & Musical Festival

Costa Mesa, California

Friday, March 8, 3:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 9, 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 10, 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

SXSW

Brooklyn Vegan SXSW Day Parties

The Main

603 Red River St, Austin, TX (6th St. and Red River)

Saturday, March 16, 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Chicago Tattoo Arts Convention

Rosemont, Illinois

Saturday, March 23, 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Hosted by Fall Out Boy bassist, musician, and tattoo enthusiast Pete Wentz, "Best Ink" lays bare the cutthroat and wildly unpredictable world of tattoo artistry. With nothing but their needles, ink, and passion, twelve of the best tattoo artists from around the country compete for $100,000 and a cover story in Tattoo magazine. World-renowned tattoo artist Joe Capobianco returns as the head judge and takes on the role of mentor alongside international pinup model and tattoo removal shop owner Sabina Kelley and a new judge, distinguished pinup and portrait tattoo specialist Hannah Aitchison.

Fans of "Best Ink" can access exclusive content and join the conversation on the show's social accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Google+ and Pinterest. Fans may tweet or read about the series using the #BestInk hashtag on Twitter. The host and judges can also be followed via Twitter using @PeteWentz, @whatsnottalike, @Sabina_Kelley, and @hannahaitchison.

"Best Ink" is produced by Bunim/Murray Productions, a Banijay Group company, with Jonathan Murray, Gil Goldschein, and Rico Martinez serving as executive producers and Erin Cristall, Rene Rainey, and Peter Woronov serving as co-executive producers.

About Oxygen Media

Oxygen Media is a multiplatform entertainment brand that delivers relevant and engaging content to young women who like to "live out loud." Oxygen is rewriting the rulebook for women's media by changing how the world sees entertainment from a young woman's point of view. Through a vast array of unconventional and original content, including "The Glee Project," "Best Ink," and "Bad Girls Club," the growing cable network is the premier destination for unique and groundbreaking unscripted programming. "The Glee Project" is a winner of a 2012 Gracie Award which honors programming created for women, by women and about women for "Outstanding Reality Show." A social media trendsetter, Oxygen is a leading force in engaging modern young women, wherever they are, with popular, award winning features online including www.OxygenLive.com, the real time social viewing party that is also available as an app for the iPhone and iPad. Oxygen is available in 80 million homes, and can be found online and on mobile devices at www.oxygen.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/OxygenPR. Oxygen Media is a service of NBCUniversal.

About Bunim/Murray Productions

Bunim/Murray Productions is the leading producer of innovative entertainment content. The Emmy Award-winning company is widely credited with creating the reality television genre with its hit series The Real World (27 seasons for MTV). BMP continued to innovate with the first reality game show, Road Rules (MTV), in 1995; the first reality sitcom, The Simple Life (E!), in 2003; and the first reality soap opera, Starting Over, in 2003. Bunim-Murray's current programming includes The Bad Girls Club, Love Games and Best Ink (Oxygen), Keeping up with the Kardashians, Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, Kim and Kourtney Take New York, Khloe and Lamar and Mrs. Eastwood & Company (E!), The Real World and The Challenge (MTV), Project Runway and Project Runway All Stars (Lifetime). Bunim/Murray Productions produces cross-platform digital content and branded entertainment through BMP Digital, its digital division. The company has also produced films, including Pedro (MTV) and the Emmy Award-winning Autism: The Musical (HBO). Based in Van Nuys, CA, Bunim/Murray Productions was founded in 1987 by Jonathan Murray and the late Mary-Ellis Bunim, who were inducted into the Television Academy of Arts & Science's Hall of Fame in 2012. The company joined Banijay Group in 2010.

About YouToo Technologies

Youtoo Technologies is a software firm supplying private label, interactive TV and gaming services to the entertainment industry. The company is the only technology firm in the world that develops software on top of a live television network. In 2011, Youtoo Technologies launched its development platform, Youtoo TV, a cable television network in 177 out of the top 200 television markets. To date, Youtoo Technologies has broadcast over 500,000 viewers and their social media interactions on national television.