I'm still trying to get a firm grip on what their "game" really is. Smells like creative entrepreneurship to me.

Probably they're trying to leverage a deal for a television series or at least a series of "documentaries" for broadcast. And this is their "pilot" -- except with an added real-time component of video etc. as they go, to generate interest.

The pay-to-get-first-info is a way to pay down some expenses, and get a marketing list for later.

The number of hits on their website will be used as an indication of interest, which is valuable marketing information. So is a lot of the login stuff, even for media, which gives them a marketing base.

If they generate enough buzz/hype/etc., they might just make a buck at it.

Nice thing is, they can't really lose as long as they gather interesting footage. If they suffer hardship and bug out early, it's compelling (people love to watch other people's disasters). If they make it, it's a triumph of man against wild (news coverage). If one of them gets eaten by a bear, that's a total marketing windfall (worldwide coverage) -- tough luck for the guy who gets eaten, that's showbiz.