Dotwin
The Dotwin (double meaning: from English dot 'point' and to win ' to win ' and abbreviation for 'Digital Optical Transmitter Wireless Intelligent Navigation.') Was a small circular cardboard disk that the newspaper Bild , T-D1 , McDonald’s , Deutsche Bank 24 , Shell and the TV station ProSieben in 2001 for a competition. A year later, SAT.1 also started a Dotwin campaign.
It was developed and marketed by Thomas Hohenacker and his company tvmiles.
Appearance
The Dotwin was about the diameter of a two euro piece (five Deutsche Mark piece) and was about 3 mm thick. The surface had the Dotwin's face , a kind of red ball with eyes and mouth. It was partly printed with sponsor logos. The slogan “Bring me to the light!” Was introduced to illustrate the function. For the soccer world championship in 2002, SAT.1 also started the campaign. Here the Dotwins were no longer red, but had the SAT.1 trademark (colorful ball) printed on them. The slogan was now "Top right in the corner!"
Purpose and function
The disc entitles them to take part in a competition with the main prize of 100,000 German marks (2001 on ProSieben) and 250,000 euros (2002 on SAT.1) on the condition that the television viewer was not allowed to switch off during the broadcast. During the broadcast, at the point of the television picture where the Dotwin had to be stuck on (on ProSieben top left, on SAT.1 top right), a red area was constantly displayed. The Dotwins contained a weakly sensitive photographic film, divided into six segments, which was exposed for a long time by the television using a bright, program-specific pattern on this area. In the end, a change could be seen on the film that was visible through the holes on the back, which should confirm that the program was being followed. Thus the Dotwin became valid .
criticism
The Dotwins have been criticized in three ways. On the one hand, the mechanism could also be activated by direct exposure, so that the relevant programs did not have to be viewed. On the other hand, there were hoax reports that the Dotwins had an espionage function. Information about the audience should be collected through a chip incorporated inside . However, no chip could be detected in the Dotwins. In addition, the television programs in which the Dotwin was faded in were ultimately regarded as not very demanding.