NEW YORK – July 10, 2012 – Today, USA Network, the top entertainment brand and pioneer in Social TV, introduces COVERT AFFAIRS:Sights Unseen, a prequel web series that explores the blind tech-ops expert Auggie Andersen backstory as played by Christopher Gorham. The narrative will invite fans to experience one of his early field assignments since rejoining the CIA after being blinded during a tour in Iraq. Sponsored by Capital One Venture Card, this five-week experience gives fans a special ticket to travel with Auggie to Barcelona, Spain, in a choose your own adventure narrative with exclusive video and plotlines available on iPads or desktops. Sights Unseen is developed in conjunction with the creative team behind the show including creators and executive producers Matt Corman and Chris Ord, and is directed by star Christopher Gorham. Fans can participate at SightsUnseen.usanetwork.com, when the show returns for season three, on Tuesday, July 10, 10/9c.
“Recognizing the appeal and popularity of the Auggie Andersen character coupled with Christopher Gorham’s strong social following, the prequel web series evolved organically and serves to expand the Covert Affairs franchise and mythology,” said Alexandra Shapiro, executive vice president, marketing & digital, USA. “Continuing our ‘Created With’ approach, we worked with long-time partner Capital One Venture Card to create an experience that gives fans enhanced storylines, engaging interactivity and social extensions.”
At key moments throughout Sights Unseen, fans will be asked to make decisions that impact the direction of the story, which they can also share on Facebook and Twitter. Fans can also earn double points in the show’s affinity club Covert Operatives, for making correct decisions in the narrative or interacting with Capital One Venture Card’s Facebook page. USA and Capital One Venture Card will further leverage the Sights Unseen experience by offering a sweepstakes giving fans the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Barcelona, Spain.
“Integrating the Capital One brand with Covert Affairs: Sights Unseen enables us to engage fans with the right mix of travel, excitement and adventure — a perfect fit for Venture,” said Roger Ferguson, Vice President, Advertising and Sponsorships at Capital One. “We’re always looking for new opportunities to provide more interactive content to audiences while building greater exposure for our brand and products.”
Covert Affairs: Sights Unseen is set one year after Auggie’s injury, as he adjusts to being a CIA handler, forced to deal with rookie agent, Garrett Miller, who isn’t making his adjustment any easier. When Garrett calls in a big “Get” — turning a girlfriend of a Salafist Group member into an asset — Joan (Kari Matchett) decides to send Auggie to Spain to supervise, but Garrett’s naïve enthusiasm endangers not only the success of the mission but also their safety.
USA created Covert Affairs: Sights Unseen in conjunction with 30 Ninjas, a creator of cutting-edge transmedia entertainment, and technology partner FlixMaster, a game-changing online interactive video creation/production platform. Christopher Gorham stars in the Social TV activation and also directs the entire series. Gorham previously starred in the Covert Affairs Tweetcast Mission Budapest. Kari Matchett also appears as Joan Campbell, the character she plays on COVERT AFFAIRS.
The critically-acclaimed drama series, COVERT AFFAIRS, stars Golden Globe®-nominated Piper Perabo as Annie Walker, a young CIA operative whose exceptional linguistic skills and killer instinct quickly made her invaluable to the Agency. Last season, after Annie’s mission in Stockholm turned deadly, she comes back to the one person who has always been there for her – Auggie (Gorham), the Agency’s blind tech-ops expert and her best friend. However, Auggie’s mind is elsewhere as he sets out to follow Parker (guest star Devin Kelly) to Eritrea and leaves Annie wondering if her feelings run deeper than she thought. Could the future of their friendship lie in the balance? Meanwhile, both Joan (Matchett) and Arthur (Peter Gallagher) are in precarious positions within the Agency and Jai (Sendhil Ramamurthy) could hold both their fate in his hands. As the series returns, Annie continues to transform into a seasoned operative with more high-octane adventures spanning the globe. This season, international shooting locations will include Puerto Rico, Paris, Morocco and Barcelona and in addition to Kelly, guest stars include Sarah Clarke, Richard Coyle, Daniella Alonso and Rena Sofer.