Netflix has just given its platform a major upgrade. They have rolled out a new feature that allows audiences across the country to interact with a show in real time. The feature was rolled out quietly on Dinner Time Live with David Chang, which returned for a third season this year.
The new episodes are broadcast live on Tuesday evenings, with people watching from home able to vote on numerous things. People could vote on whether they wanted soup or salad, or tuna fish over grilled cheese.
Netflix Have Also Launched a Help Guide for Voting
When you watch the show live, you are prompted and given a short window in which to cast your vote. You can do this via the Netflix app, or you can do it via your television remote. Each profile gets one vote per decision, but viewers are also able to see how their decision compares to others in real-time. Voting is only available if you watch live, so if you pause your stream, then you won’t be able to vote later in the show. Netflix has released a helpful guide to help you understand the process, and if it goes well, it could be that we see even more shows released in this format.
Connected Experiences Are On the Rise
Netflix isn’t a stranger to interactive storytelling. The platform released Bandersnatch in 2018, where viewers could make decisions that would ultimately affect the direct outcome of the show. This is nothing new either, as connected experiences have been on the rise for quite some time.
On certain streaming platforms, for example, including Twitch, people are given the chance to vote on what map a player should choose next. Even in iGaming, connected experiences are common. Take progressive jackpot slots like Age Of The Gods: God of Storms. Titles like this are connected to other games across different platforms, so each time you spin a reel, the total is added to the jackpot.
As this is connected across multiple sites, people can contribute to the jackpot simultaneously. Trends like this just go to show how impactful connected experiences can be, and with Netflix embracing them for the newest season of a cooking show, it’s incredible to think how this could completely transform viewing experiences.
In reality television shows, it may be that people decide on a punishment for a losing team, or even in cooking shows, the audience could vote on who they would like to go through to the next round. If Netflix were to truly embrace this, the possibilities would be endless, and it could also pave the way for whole new viewing experiences.
It would also not be surprising to see platforms like Amazon embrace this format as well, especially with how they have been investing in live sports. If fans were given the chance to vote on whether they think someone would make a field goal, or whether someone is going to win a game, this would again make the experience more immersive, which would be huge for the platform.
