ARARAT Rural City Council will try to capitalise on a reality television show with a $100,000 marketing campaign.
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The next season of The Biggest Loser TV show will feature Ararat as a town challenged to turn its health around.
The show has now completed filming and will air on Channel Ten early in the new year.
Ararat Mayor Paul Hooper said advertisements for the show had already started to air.
He said council had a special meeting to determine a budget for a marketing campaign.
“There was no allocation made in the budget for marketing funds to use in conjunction with the program,” he said.
“Our name is going to be on national TV for an extended period of time – we need to take advantage of that and promote Ararat and the region.”
"Our name is going to be on national TV for an extended period of time – we need to take advantage of that and promote Ararat and the region."
The show will be broadcast across the country and will put Ararat and the surrounding region in the spotlight for 11 weeks.
Council believes the program will provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to promote Ararat Rural City and the Grampians region as a picturesque place where people can raise a family amid a positive community.
Cr Hooper said the show could have economic benefits for the region.
“In the short term, it is going to promote Ararat and the immediate region, including the Grampians,” he said.
“An increase in visitors to the town and region will be an immediate short-term gain.
“It’s about lifting our profile and making the most of it.”
The marketing campaign will include engaging a public relations company to assist with professional messaging and developing an online digital media profile.
There will also be a range of Challenge Ararat activities, which involve people in the community receiving information on physical activity and healthy eating, motivational speakers, trainers and large-scale activities.
Activities will occur across the municipality and include small town communities.
Cr Hooper said the show was exciting for everyone in Ararat.
“Especially all the people who have worked incredibly hard throughout filming of the show,” he said.