Multiplatfrom broadcaster BiteTV has added four new shows to its fall lineup, including one that was made for a sponsor — Canadian youth retailer West49.

Targeting the 16- to 24-year-old market, West 49 Ambition Skatecamp was built specifically for the brand, says Jeffrey Elliott, founder and president of Bite and co-CEO of parent GlassBOX TV. ‘Literally from the ground up, it was built with West49 as our partner, and their brand [was built] into the series,’ he says.

Filmed at a resort on Lake Rousseau in Ontario, Ambition pits young skateboarders against each other for a profile in SBC Skateboard Magazine and a chance to compete in the Maloof Money Cup for $450,000 in prize money. The eight-episode series debuts Nov. 2.

Also premiering next month is The Short Bus, an after-school chat and music show that will feature Twitter-to-screen and chat-to-screen elements. It will also call for user-generated content that could be used for the station’s other programs. ‘When I say homegrown content I’m not talking about cats on skateboards, I’m talking about young professionals who are creating content and doing a really good job,’ says Elliott.

The Short Bus also premieres on Nov. 2. It’s an ongoing series — ‘think of it as an afternoon blog,’ Elliott says.

From Media in Canada