Open Up the Backchannel

Tagged as: O.P.E.N., digital millennials, engaging, networked, social web
Posted by: Dan Shust 

 

Earlier this month MTV launched Backchannel, a very cool competitive chat game designed to be played while watching live episodes of The Hills. Players type in witty comments referencing what is happening on screen and earn points when others like their comments. (You vote by clicking on their comment.)

We have been seeing similar experiences sprout up for the debates and other select events, but why not just open the backchannel permanently? Let us chat while we watch, participate in fun competitions, etc. I'd love to see the major networks get behind an idea like this. What a great way to enhance the viewing of a live sporting event, episodic drama, etc. It could even make a really horrible show fun. (Remember MST3K?)

Advertisers would love it because chatting encourages live viewing (the anti-DVR?). Additionally, they could collect some very interesting user opinion data surrounding their ad campaigns.

What do you say NBC, ABC, CBS, HBO? Open up the backchannel and I might even watch Knightrider.

Tagged as: O.P.E.N., digital millennials, engaging, networked, social web

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