Social Television Networking
from the everyone-gather-round-now dept
While lots of media companies have been trying to figure out how the whole "social networking" phenomenon impacts their business, it looks like AOL is trying to take the concept to the next level while also being true to their plans of "convergence." They've patented the concept of buddy list TV sharing. The idea is that you could see what your friends were watching on TV and immediately tune in yourself. It's not too hard to see how this would work. Already, the latest version of Yahoo Messenger includes the ability to see what music your friends are listening to and immediately tuning in yourself. This idea tries to go a bit further. For instance, someone could set up a chat room around a particular TV show, and could then play that show, while everyone else could discuss it in real-time. To understand what you're watching, it would require a set-top box that would tie into your internet connection as well. Of course, it's unclear how such a system will work in an age of TiVo when no-one watches a show at the same time.
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
the networks will subvert this
The article says: "...the software could switch their televisions to the same channel, either automatically or by giving them a link to click." Wait until the TV networks co-opt this system by buying "votes" for programs and inserting ads disguised as viewer comments. Things like, "Isn't this the greatest show ever?" or "I blew off my poker game just to watch this program." Just like the laugh tracks they now add to bland sitcoms whose writers don't even know what humor is.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
But who watches TV anymore?
Isn't TV just for lower class people who don't use the net?
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
No Subject Given
TV is the drug of the masses
the drudge of the lower classes
a mindless waste
for an awful taste
of something like " The Simple Life 2 "
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Add Your Comment