Social networking meets TV networks

American Eagle Outfitters will be creating a series of three minute films that is to replace the first commercial break of the new season of The Real World:Sydney that starts in August. The series will be made by Milo Ventimiglia, who stars on NBC's hit show Heroes and will be 12 episodes long and will be called It's a Mall World. Longer versions of each episode will air on the American Eagle website the next day and will let consumers buy the clothing worn in the episode. The story line of the series is a regular boy meets girl type and in a similar tone to the 1994 film Clerks. By just having one item in the entire commercial break rather than several 30 second ads, the company hopes to keep viewers glued to the channel.