Mark Burnett is best known as the creator of Survivor, but before that show he was the man behind the Eco-Challenge. Last week, that project made a big impression with Lycos users.
What is Eco-Challenge? It is based on adventure races, multi-sport endurance contests that have been popular in New Zealand since the 1980's. Each co-ed team of four competitors races non-stop over a harsh 300-mile course. The varied conditions of the course require not just cross-country running but also whitewater canoeing, horseback riding, scuba diving, and mountain biking. The race has no time-outs, so racers must decide when to spend precious time on rest and when to eat from limited food supplies.
With Eco-Challenge, Burnett took the basic adventure race idea and gave it a green twist. Racers and media covering the event must follow strict environmental guidelines. They must stay on exisiting trails when possible, choose campsites that do not disrupt soil conditions, and participate in a local environmental community service project before the event.
Burnett started Eco-Challenge in Utah in 1995 and himself captained a team that year. The race has gotten larger and larger over the years; the most recent Eco-Challenge took place in Borneo in August 2000 with 76 four-person teams from 26 countries. The show did not air on television until last week, but when it did it really spurred interest.
Eco Challenge searches jumped 540 percent this week to reach the same level as Mariah Carey and The Sopranos. That is a little less than half as many searches as the items on the bottom of the Lycos 50. It also represents more searches in a week than have ever been received by two reality shows, Popstars or Making the Band.
That interest was shown in the television ratings as well. Eco-Challenge had been on the Discovery Network prior to this year, but USA Network bought the show this year, and boy, are they happy. Compared with a year ago, Eco-Challenge ratings were up 82 percent. It's the power of Burnett! ABC probably wonders if they could attach Burnett's name to boost Stanley Cup playoff ratings.
TOMORROW: Equally Popular returns!
