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How TV viewing became a social experience
Television: Now with 100% more social web!
TV: it’s not just on TVs anymore! It’s no surprise that viewers are using different devices to watch.
Do you ever watch television and surf the net at the same time? Then you might already be sharing your thoughts about TV programs on social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter. Social TV, through which people exchange opinions about the content, is a fast-growing trend.
After nearly 75 years of television sets being at the heart of the living room, the focus is shifting away from the box to take in other technology in the home. Anyone with a web connection, computer and access to the same TV channels can share comments live during a broadcast. This instant communication is adding an interactive element to the viewing experience.
Social TV has the potential to radically change TV viewing from a passive, somewhat solitary experience to something more dynamic and interactive.
Mobile apps
Mobile phone apps provide a platform for commenting on TV programs and social networks are making shared online discussions mainstream. Bespoke applications geared to sharing thoughts and views on TV shows are appearing on a variety of different devices.
A good example is TV Chatter (a free iPhone app) which offers a real-time stream of tweets. While watching TV, users can launch the app to choose a show from the social program guide and add their own comments if they have a Twitter account.
Avatar parties
In the UK’s social TV scene, Xbox has a deal with broadcaster Sky for streaming TV. Viewers who pay a subscription fee for this service can watch entire programs with online friends and interact via avatars and voice chat.
The console’s Emote system allows these avatars to express particular emotions like happiness or anger as reaction to the onscreen action. Emoticons and text have pretty much been the preferred communications method for social TV.
Boxee is a service that started out as an online social media centre for use with a PC or Apple TV and has now made the leap to set top box device. Free software for the service can be downloaded to a PC and, with a set top box being released later in 2010, TV shows, movies, pictures and music will be available to users. Deals have been struck with US content providers and content available for legal download can also be shared and discussed with friends.
Other firms, such as Verizon, have already integrated social media – such as Facebook and Twitter – into its TV systems. It plans to carry on enhancing the social experience through widgets and features including an onscreen keyboard to send tweets.
By the end of 2010 people will be able to talk and see others live on their television via Skype.
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