Posted by admin | Posted in Technology | Posted on 18-10-2011
Social television is a very modern technology that is making waves in the telecommunications industry. It involves an interaction between people and television or anything related to any television show. This technology allows communication in the form of text chatting, context awareness of shows, ranking something shown, video conferencing, educational shows and many more.
Social television has made such an impact on both society and networks that the network executives are now seeing it as a solution to not only provide better shows for their viewers but as a solution to the lagging number of viewers. With this new technology, more people are turning back to television as a major medium for entertainment.
There are going to be more innovations in the future of television and how they are to be viewed. There are some great examples like popular TV shows such as American Idol and The Voice where the networks expect to have more viewers and thereby increasing their ranking and where the fans can get to vote for their favorite contestants without having to consider the costs. Using Facebook and Twitter is for free, unlike the traditional way of voting where one text message can cost. Another great example is Google TV. Thanks to this, people can watch their videos online, can download an apparatus and get to interact with the TV show being watched.
This concept of combining social networking and television all came about because of the interaction of mobile phone users with their social networks. In fact, many look at the mobile devices and their computer screens as the medium of choice to watch shows because the user is allowed to interact while watching. In a bid to revive the viewing of television, the social interaction was allowed by some networks and it worked.
Today, the networks and shows that incorporate social television are seeing more viewers and more advertisers. Of course the networks now see that because of the rise in interest, the networks are seeing more profits. The viewers can, for example, vote for their favorite contestant using Facebook or Twitter. Viewers of popular TV shows like Bones can read hashtags on the TV screens. C-SPAN has also joined the bandwagon by showing tweets from US representatives and US senators even in the middle of a quorum call. Top Gear, a popular British show that showcases popular and must have vehicles also post clips of their episodes on Facebook.
The difference between social television and regular television is that there are more viewers who can now be reached, no matter the viewers are not within the country like the US and Britain where the shows are broadcast. Of course the offshore viewers cannot vote as of yet for contestants in Idol and Voice, but who knows? With the rate the popularity of the medium is making waves among American and British viewers, it would not be surprising when a future announcement will include allowing for international viewers to interact on TV just as if they were local viewers.
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The article is contributed by Calvin Scott. Calvin is infatuated by expensive gadgets and his iphone. Visit his site to know more about interactieve televisie and tv en internet.