America Joins the Chase in the Next Generation Competitive Reality Series "The Runner," Premiering July 1 on go90 and AOL.com

America Joins the Chase in the Next Generation Competitive Reality Series "The Runner," Premiering July 1 on go90 and AOL.com

Series Hosted by YouTube Sensation and Pop Culture Expert "MatPat," with Award-Winning Correspondent and VICE News Producer

Kaj Larsen Serving as On-Camera Expert

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., June 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Launching July 1, The Runner is a groundbreaking new reality competition played out over the course of a 30-day period on go90 and AOL.com. The Series comes from Executive Producers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, through their production company Pearl Street Films; Adaptive Studios and Executive Producers Perrin Chiles and Marc Joubert; and Pilgrim Media Group, with Craig Piligian executive producing.

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Hosted by Matthew Patrick (aka "MatPat"), creator of YouTube series Game Theory, and featuring VICE News journalist, producer and media commentator Kaj Larsen as the on-camera expert, The Runner challenges one person to make it across America while the entire country hunts him or her down for a chance to cash in on over one million dollars in prize money.

Said Affleck and Damon in a joint statement, "We're thrilled for the opportunity to launch the first-ever, real-time competition show produced with the mobile viewer in mind that enables everyone to get in on the chase and [receive] prizes through social media. We're proud to be bringing The Runner to go90, and to be part of a new kind of entertainment experience."

Chip Canter, GM of Digital Entertainment at Verizon, said, "The Runner raises the stakes for reality series in the streaming video space. Real-time captured footage, lightning speed editing, three action-packed episodes daily and interactive viewer participation is a first for online and television. It aligns perfectly with our vision for go90, which is to push the boundaries on mobile and digital entertainment to suit our audience."

Added Piligian, executive producer and Pilgrim Media Group CEO, "The Runner marks a milestone in the evolution of competition programming. Not only are we bringing broadcast-quality production, live elements and audience interaction to a new level of intensity, but we're also bringing those components to a social media platform. We are using every tool at our disposal to create a massively entertaining and exciting viewer experience that we hope will help expand the scope of reality competition."

Game Overview

The Runner
The Runner must follow a series of daily clues and complete a number of tasks that will lead him or her across America for 30 consecutive days. Tasks are designed to test five key skills: strength, endurance, problem solving, intellect and memory. If the Runner makes it across the country without being caught, he or she will win $500,000. If the Runner doesn't make it, the Runner goes home with nothing.

The Chasers
Hunting down the Runner are five, two-person "Chase teams." In an effort to get one step ahead of the Runner, these Chasers are given daily clues that help them track the Runner's every move. If Chase teams are able to capture the Runner, they win the bounty on his or her head, which increases by $15,000 daily. Along with the Chase teams, viewers have the opportunity to solve the clues on go90.com/TheRunner to log the correct answer for the chance to win.

America Joins the Chase
America chooses their favorite Chase team and assists them in catching the Runner through social media for a chance to win cash prizes. Each Chase team gives away $1,000 daily to their valued fans for tips and general support. At the conclusion, The Runner MVP will be chosen via a lottery system that favors the most active fan, who is then awarded $50,000. To play along, watch the show for clues and connect with the show on Twitter (@therunnergo90), Facebook (Facebook.com/therunnergo90), Instagram (therunnergo90), and Snapchat (therunnergo90) for details about how to win cash prizes.

When to Watch
go90 and AOL.com will be streaming three episodes of The Runner each day throughout July, with Matt Patrick and Kaj Larsen guiding viewers through daily game updates.

Daily Episode #1 (9 am PST/12 pm EST)
This first daily episode includes a recap from the prior day's action and the LIVE reveal of the day's first America's Cash Task (ACT). As the ACT is announced live - anyone watching live on go90 or AOL.com can view and start participating for chances to win cash prizes.

Daily Episode #2 (12 pm PST/3 pm EST)
The second daily episode is a LIVE in-studio update and analysis of the current game status. The Runner hosts will also break down the current social media conversations that are happening across multiple platforms.

Daily Episode #3 (7 pm PST/10 pm EST)
The third daily episode will be the final daily update, as the game concludes for the day. During this episode, viewers will get insight into the Chasers and their relationships. Our Hosts will also provide analysis on the Runner and Chase teams' current standings and strategies.

MatPat and Kaj Larsen
Matthew Patrick, aka MatPat, operates the YouTube channels The Game Theorists and Film Theorists and livestreaming channel GT Live. Currently at 10 million subscribers and 50 million monthly views across these properties, they also consistently rank among YouTube's 100 fastest-growing channels. They are the "Mythbusters" for gamers and cinephiles, educating viewers while unearthing the secrets behind gaming, film and television's most enduring questions. MatPat is also the creator and host of Game Lab, a YouTube Red Original series that takes YouTube's biggest gamers off the comfort of their couches and places them into the real-life equivalent of their favorite games.

An award winning correspondent and producer for VICE News, Kaj Larsen has produced documentaries on conflict and national security issues for the network. Prior to VICE, Kaj was a correspondent at CNN as a member of CNN's Special Investigations and Documentary unit. Kaj has produced hit television series such as US Navy Pirate Hunters, a one-hour special for Spike TV, and LOCKUP, the highly rated show about life in American prison on MSNBC. He's earned Emmy and Peabody nominations, two Telly awards and several Golden Cine awards.

Prior to his work in television journalism, Kaj spent five years on active duty serving as a US Navy SEAL. As a Lieutenant, he led a team of special warfare personnel in covert operations overseas, deploying as a detachment commander in support of the Global War on Terrorism. He continues his service as a SEAL reserve officer assigned to US Special Operations Command.

Download go90 to witness the action and join the chase!

About go90
go90 is a free, mobile-first, digital entertainment platform that makes it easy and fun to discover, enjoy and share great content. go90 is part of the Verizon Communications family of companies. go90 brings together networks, distributors, creators, audiences and brands to deliver great experiences for the next generation. For more check out go90.com

About Pilgrim Media Group
Craig Piligian's Pilgrim Media Group, a Lionsgate company, produces a wide variety of unscripted and scripted programming for television, including Fast N' Loud, Street Outlaws, Misfit Garage and upcoming series The Wheel for Discovery; My Big Fat Fabulous Life for TLC; two-time NAACP Award-winner Welcome to Sweetie Pie's for OWN; Ghost Brothers for Destination America; Ghost Hunters for Syfy; Bring It! and Step It Up! for Lifetime; David Tutera's CELEBrations for WE tv; Wicked Tuna and Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks for National Geographic Channel; and Zombie House Flipping for FYI. Pilgrim also is in production on The Runner, with Executive Producers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, for Verizon's go90. In the scripted realm, Pilgrim produced Freeform series Recovery Road and original movies for Lifetime including Amanda Knox: Murder On Trial In Italy; Abducted: The Carlina White Story, which earned a 2012 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing In A Motion Picture; and the crime thriller Stalkers. For more, visit pilgrimstudios.com.

About Adaptive Studios
Adaptive Studios is a pioneering media studio focused on the acquisition and development of intellectual property across all platforms. Sourcing material through partners including studios, talent agencies, management companies and production houses, as well as in-house, Adaptive creates and produces film, television, digital entertainment, books and graphic novels - focusing on whichever platform best fits the story. Adaptive produced the highly acclaimed Project Greenlight for HBO and recently launched Project Greenlight Digital Studios, through which it is actively "greenlighting" an expanding slate of new digital series with emerging filmmakers. Adaptive recently wrapped production on COIN HEIST which marked the first successful conversion from script to novel to feature film for the studio. They also recently revealed plans to bring their latest novel, DC TRIP, to the big screen alongside Van Toffler's new studio, Gunpowder & Sky, and with Bona Fide Productions. Adaptive Books, the publishing imprint of Adaptive Studios, has released 11 titles to date and will publish an average of 10 books and graphic novels annually. For more information visit www.adaptivestudios.com.

About Pearl Street Films
Pearl Street Films is a Los Angeles-based film and television production company. Founded by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, PSF provides filmmakers with a creative home for making television and film across budgets and genres. Recently, Pearl Street produced season four of its Emmy® nominated Project Greenlight for HBO, the filmmaking documentary series Affleck and Damon originated in 2001. Pearl Street Films has just completed production on the feature film LIVE BY NIGHT. Affleck adapted the Dennis Lehane novel, in which he also starred and directed.

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