This experimental prototype is now at an end.
We hope you liked it.

Shownar launched in June 2009. It monitored online activity around BBC TV and radio shows, and worked out which were gaining the most attention.

It was designed to help you find shows that others had not only watched, but were talking about, and, by doing so, throw up a few hidden gems. People's engagement with shows was more important to Shownar than viewing figures; the audience size of a documentary on BBC FOUR, for instance, never approached that of EastEnders, but if that documentary sparked interest and comment — even discussion — Shownar highlighted it.

And in the same way news stories are improved by linking out to the same story on other news sites, we believe shows are improved by connecting them to the wider discussion and their audience. So when you found a show of interest, Shownar generated links to related discussions elsewhere on the web.

For more about the project, here's what the BBC's Dan Taylor had to say on its launch, and BERG's explanation of how they went about designing and building it.

Shownar was scheduled to run until December 2009. In the six months it was up and running, we had lots of people contact us with comments and feedback — thank you if you did! — and we had a few nice write-ups:

• Broadcast
• The Guardian
• New Media Age

We're really sorry to see it go, but pleased to say that Shownar is now being developed for integration with bbc.co.uk. To keep up-to-date with the latest developments and our progress, follow us on Twitter: @bbcshownar

Thanks!
The BBC Shownar Team
BERG