2012 is going to see the expansion of social media in TV. We will be able to interact socially whilst watching the TV using the same device, your TV!
Social TV at the moment
Social media is huge, networks such as facebook, twitter and other platforms allow people to share their life, experiences and get involved in general discussions. Over the past few years we have started to see other companies from the business to entertainment world taking advantage of social media. Companies have started to embrace social phenomenon by encouraging users to share their thoughts, whilst watching the show or sports event. Shows in America you can regularly see a watermarked hash tags such as #GoldenGlobes & #TwoandAHalfMen.
Despite their being encouragement for viewers to engage into social media, there is limited availability for a platform that allows them to interact at the same time. There has been the introduction of smart TVs, which allows users to access online content using their TV, but it is not simultaneously.
The future of Social TV
In 2012 we will start to see TV manufactures bridging the gap between social media and TV by allowing users to have a second-screen viewing experience using their TV. This means allowing users will be able to get involved in the social discussion at the same time as watching their favourite TV show using the same technology product.
Panasconic & MySpace = Social TV
The first TV manufacturing taking this step is Panasonic by announcing its partnership with My Space at CES 2012. At the event, they used Justin Timberlake as the voice to announce the partnership to give it more star power. He revealed,
“Why text or email your friends to talk about your favourite programs after they’ve aired when you could be sharing the experience with real-time interactivity from anywhere across the globe?”
The statement is true as people like to talk about what’s going on in their favourite shows. Panasonic’s next batch of TVs will feature MySpace’s TV application, which will allow second-screen viewing.
“Next generation of Panasonic VIERA ConnectT-enabled HDTVs, an app called MySpace TV will allow viewers to see what their MySpace friends are watching, and enable them to make comments through the TV set and via smartphone and tablet devices.”
Rebirth of MySpace
Other TV Manufacturers and social media companies will be looking at how this partnerships develops as the success could determine if others will venture into this market as well. Furthermore this partnership is also important to the future of MySpace. The company has endured a terrible year, which has seen its traffic drop by 97% during 2009-2010. Venturing into a fairly new market such as social TV, it gives them the perfect opportunity to reinvent itself and become relevant.
References
http://mashable.com/2012/01/09/myspace-timberlake-tv/#42145Goal-Zero
Tags: CES 2012, Justin Timberlake, myspace, Panasonic, Social TV
