‘Live the Drama’ is an engagement-boosting contest CTV launched yesterday to give viewers the chance ‘to walk in the shoes of their favourite characters’ in series that are now returning to the nightly sked.

Created by the CTV Creative Agency, the interactive promotion invites fans to vie for prizes by completing ‘missions’ inspired by their favourite CTV series. ‘This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Canadian viewers to win exclusive trips to the sets of their beloved television shows,’ says Susanne Boyce, CTV’s president, creative, content and channels.

The ‘Live the Drama’ contest is being hyped with a 30-second promo on-air and at CTV.ca that encourages viewers to sign up to receive a mission every two weeks. These quests are related to Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, CSI, ER and Dancing With the Stars. Contestants are to upload photos or videos of themselves relating to their series of choice for posting to an image gallery where the public will vote for their favourites.

Entries will be narrowed down to the top five per show, as selected by viewer votes, and the final winners will then be chosen by a panel of CTV judges. There will also be 10 bi-weekly prizes per show awarded based on a random draw for all entrants.

The five grand prizes include VIP treatment at the final wrap party of ER, a CSI set visit and ‘victim makeover’ by the show’s special effects makeup artist, an opportunity to attend a live taping of Dancing With the Stars, including a private dance lesson with one of the choreographers, a Desperate Housewives wardrobe tour and shopping spree, and the first-ever visit to the set of Grey’s Anatomy.