Netflix introduces real-time voting for live events

Netflix has released its attempt at interactive live video, announcing Real-Time Voting for live events.

According to the press release, people watching select live content will see a pop-up appear at the bottom of supported screens, presenting a few voting options. If you are using the mobile app, you can simply tap the screen, while TV watchers (both Smart TV and streaming devices) can use the remote to select their desired vote.

Now, it isn’t just selecting names either. For Netflix’s new revival of the talent competition Star Search, you can give each performance a 1-5 star rating based on what you thought of it. As expected, voting is final, so you do have to vote carefully. The results for each voting round are revealed during the episode, eliminating the traditional TV method of waiting until next week.

According to Netflix’s ‘how-to’ guide for the new feature, voting can occur multiple times per episode and will only be open during a select window. Netflix also said that Star Search’s voting windows will most likely be opened during the performance breaks.

The streaming platform began testing an early version of the new feature on the live program Dinner Time Live with David Chang, and used the test run to gauge how audiences used the new voting system.

Although Star Search is the only use of the new live voting system for now, the company notes that more live events will use it, though what events, or when they might arrive, remains unknown.

Header image credit: Netflix

Source: Netflix Canada