12. FAN WEBSITE – ONETREEHILL!

Onetreehillweb.net is an interactive site, which fans have set up to allow people to find out more information on one tree hill. The site is unofficial but it still contains a lot of information, some in more detail than the official website. It is relevant to show what depths people will go to if they are interested in something, and how big fans can make certain websites – this one for example is the biggest one tree hill source on the web. The technology involved is the internet, various hosting sites, and cameras.

The site is mainly of interest to people who watch one tree hill, which is usually girls aged 14-20. The site contains everything you could want to know, whether you are an extreme fan or one who watches one tree hill on and off. When you open the site up, it is easy to see how popular it is, as a sound clip is played from one of the cast introducing you to the website. The site is also relatively well designed showing how much effort has gone into this. There is a link bar across the top of the page, which you can use to guide yourself around. The links include things such as music, which takes you to a page which has all the music played in each episode, style which tells you how you can dress similarly to the people on opne tree hill and domain which gives you information on the sites history for example the fact that it has been in operation since 2003, and was made by two sisters from New Jersey. Down the center of the page there is a blog style update box, which has updates given from the makers of the website, on anything to do with one tree hill, for example information on the SOS campaign to save one tree hill. There is also a lot more interactive features on the site. For example as well as a search box, and a chance to vote, there are links to the forum, affiliates of the site for example one on Brucus as well as links in order to buy one tree hill stuff. One of the features on the main page is also information on the next episode, and a link to the global site – this gives information on when the show is airing in other countries for example the UK (8th April – 5pm).

The way you use the site depends on how much you are into one tree hill. If you are a hardcore fan the site is a good way to meet people with similar interests, who you can talk about the show with, however if you just watch OTH and aren’t really interested in things outside of the show its self, the site may come in handy if you have watched an episode and want to know a song from it. The site relies on adverts to keep it going, however these are all one tree hill related. The makers of the site however can also use the site to advertise if they need help – currently they are asking for bandwidth to support all the images they have to host, as well as extra pictures from the recent charity basketball game.

The site helps the CW advertise the show, although not necessarily directly as they have no control over the site. The advertisers could receive extra sales from this website as they are targeting a specific section of the audience, which their products then do. Other companies can then use the website, as they know the target audience which they are aiming for. For example the OC is advertised on the website as it is assumed by the producers that people who are interested in OTH, will also like OC as they are similar programs (american teen dramas)


Democratisation is key here, as the people that have made the website have done so of their own ground and have therefore have got in on the internet revolution themselves. Diversification is also a factor, as people with a specific interest that of OTH, can be targeted through the website and further their interest with this website. Reach is apparent due to the site being on the internet and being accessed from all over the world, as well as interactivity which allows people to get closer to the media by participating in the interactive features offered by the website. The audience can also be narrowcasting, as it can be assumed that most people who access the website are interested in one tree hill or want to find out more about it. This leaves the market fragmented as the groups that access the website are much smaller, however with a strong interest.