• by Mark Walsh  @markfwal, December 21, 2006

Social networking company Cyworld USA is pairing with NBC to create a profile page and other community features around a popular character on the daytime soap "Passions." The effort is aimed at expanding the show's ties to its core audience of young female viewers.

The virtual section focusing on the show's Fancy Crane character will launch on the Passions Web site Friday. It will feature a page, called "Fancy's Room," that will include personal information about her, including journal entries, pictures and sketches.

It will also feature other virtual items such as her phone and laptop containing instant messages, photos and other material. Users can also sign up to win prizes through the site including an album signed by Fancy Crane or clothes from e-commerce store cranecouture.com, which sells the clothing worn on the TV show. Those entering the sweepstakes also receive virtual currency called "Acorns" to buy digital items in the Cyworld shop for their own Cyworld pages.

"'Passions' fans are devoted, tech-savvy consumers who crave unique ways to interact with their favorite characters," said Annamarie Kostura, vice president, NBC Daytime, in a statement. "Cyworld is a great partnership and a unique way to continue NBC Daytime's push into the digital arena."

NBC isn't the only network creating a social networking site inspired by one of its shows. Showtime Tuesday said it planned to launch a social site on Jan. 7 tied to "The L Word," which focuses on a group of gay women in Los Angeles. The site, OurChart.com, will feature profile pages of executive producer Ilene Chaiken and the lead actresses in the series.