#interactivetv

[thevisionarywriter]

Interactive TV: When Viewers Control the Storyline

Television has come a long way from the days when viewers could only passively watch whatever was broadcast. Today, a new format is changing how we experience stories on screen: interactive TV, where viewers make choices that determine how the story unfolds.

What is Interactive TV?

Interactive television puts viewers in the driver's seat of storytelling. Instead of watching a predetermined narrative, viewers are presented with choices at key moments that change the direction of the plot. This creates a personalized viewing experience where your decisions directly impact what happens next.

Major streaming platforms like Netflix have embraced this format with shows like "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch" and "You vs. Wild." These productions represent just the beginning of what many industry experts believe could transform entertainment.

How It Works

The technology behind interactive TV is surprisingly straightforward. At critical moments in the story, the video pauses and presents viewers with options. For example, should the main character:

Open the mysterious door?

Run away?

Depending on your choice, the video continues along different paths. Behind the scenes, creators must film multiple versions of scenes and design complex decision trees that account for all possible viewer choices.

The Streaming Technology Association reports that interactive productions typically require 2-3 times more footage than traditional shows of similar length.

The Appeal of Control

Interactive TV taps into our natural desire to influence outcomes and be part of the story. Research from the Journal of Media Psychology suggests that this active engagement creates stronger emotional connections to the content.

Dr. Amanda Wilson, media psychologist at Stanford University, explains: "When viewers make choices for characters, they experience increased investment in the story and heightened emotional responses to outcomes."

Beyond Entertainment

The potential applications extend beyond pure entertainment. Educational platforms like PBS Kids have developed interactive programs that allow children to learn through choice-based storytelling. Medical training programs are also using similar technology to help doctors practice decision-making in simulated scenarios.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite its innovative approach, interactive TV faces hurdles. Production costs are significantly higher than traditional programming. Writing coherent stories with multiple branches requires specialized skills.

The Writers Guild of America has even created new guidelines for compensating writers of interactive content, acknowledging the increased complexity of these projects.

The Future of Viewer Control

As technology advances, interactive experiences are becoming more sophisticated. Some productions are exploring:

Voice control instead of remote selections

Integration with smart home devices

Artificial intelligence that adapts storylines based on viewer preferences

Industry analysts at TechMedia Research predict that by 2026, interactive content will represent nearly 15% of all new streaming productions.

For viewers who've dreamed of stepping into their favorite shows and changing the outcomes, the future of television looks increasingly participatory. As streaming platforms compete for audience attention, expect to see more opportunities to not just watch stories, but to help create them.

[thecindykelly]

Never imagined 20 years ago when I was executive director of the Advanced Television Forum that someday I would have a teenage son who would want to wear my iMIX fleece pullover. 📺 #digitalTV #Chyron #interactiveTV #ATVForum (at Wichita, Kansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7SOt5Ig94X/?igshid=osm1m8ahafsz

[tvvideodownload]

TvVideoDownload: https://www.mediavillage.com/article/tackling-advanced-tv-options-at-tvot-new-york/

[honeybethwiggs]

Give it a try! #healthyholidays #funexercise #interactivetv #movieworkouts #hallmarkchristmasmovies #healthcoach #joyfulhealth #coachingpractice #honeybethwiggs #lifeissweeterwithhoney #legacyofjoyinc https://www.instagram.com/p/BrVHljLn2RQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=19hch9wkb9zoy

[ghostwriterxposts]

Hey #interactiveTv(@FocusTVusa), thank you for following me

— GhostWriterX™ (@LENJ82) January 10, 2019

[qjawe]

Tweeted

Hey #interactiveTv thanks for the follow qjawe on Twitter! https://t.co/Z5CpoUgYEU

— JC Awe (@qjawe) May 17, 2019

[letsmicrodesign]

Hey #interactiveTv(@FocusTVusa), thank you for following me

Hey #interactiveTv(@FocusTVusa), thank you for following me

— Martin Tonev (@microDesignn) April 22, 2019

from Twitter https://twitter.com/microDesignn April 22, 2019 at 01:30PM via IFTTT

[christopherwilliamsblog]

A tweet

Thank You #interactiveTv for the follow, Don't forget to follow me & Check out my pics on #IG Click here now: https://t.co/8u0sjQdWVz

— CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS (@REALMENSINGCW) December 20, 2018

[summerb4jc]

Have a really poorly compiled review of my first experience with Netflix and Black Mirror’s Bandersnatch. My main two reactions? Tons of fun but WAY TOO DARK, but what else was I expecting with Black Mirror. #stressful #chooseyourownadventure #blackmirror #interactivetv #bandersnatch #netflix #spoilers https://www.instagram.com/p/Br9MA3FlO3V/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ipmiedynhr3b

[noregretz45]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michael L Harris (@noregretz45)

He loves #littleeinsteins! #blastoff #interactivetv #minime #myson #smartbaby #mrb #NoRegretz (at Fort Wayne, Indiana)

[radicaldesignblog]

[vladgorenshteyn]

What is CNNx?

CNNx is a new way to experience CNN across multiple platforms in a rich and interactive way. Here's the official description:

Excerpt from AdWeek:

CNNx Promises It's a New Way to Watch News App lets users watch the past 24 hours on demand with bonus digital content

By Michelle Castillo

CNN embraced the digital component of its news service on Thursday when it announced CNNx, a new way to watch the network's programming.

The app allows users to scroll through a rundown of the past 24 hours of programing on the network, and select what they want to watch with a tap of their fingertips. Viewers will be able to catch up on what they missed or see what’s up next on the docket.

“CNNx is a really revolutionary advancement, and allows the consumer to be the producer. It allows the consumer to be able to enhance what they are watching and decide when they want to watch, when they want to watch it,” CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker told Adweek.

Each news topic will contain the original newscast and additional digital content created just for CNNx consumers. Zucker added that the company is expanding its digital news team, and is already hiring to fill new positions.

“CNN has again redefined the way people consume news.  As the Internet has come crashing into the television, we’ve future-proofed CNN,” svp and gm CNN Digital KC Estenson said in a press release.“This product bolsters our relationships with TV partners, opens incredible new opportunities for advertisers and delivers consumers a truly innovative experience.”

CNNx is available effective today via the CNN App for the iPad for selected customers. The network plans to roll the program out for set-top boxes and CNN.com by the end of the year. 

Next Gen TV Experience Launches for iPad

CNN announced today CNNx, a next-generation product that gives viewers unprecedented control over their TV news experience.  Through Watch CNNx users can access 24 hours of program rundowns and select on demand the segments they want to view.  In addition, the product pairs in real time the power of CNN’s TV Everywhere initiative and a wealth of complementary digital content.

“CNN has again redefined the way people consume news.  As the Internet has come crashing into the television, we’ve future-proofed CNN,” said SVP and GM CNN Digital KC Estenson.  “This product bolsters our relationships with TV partners, opens incredible new opportunities for advertisers and delivers consumers a truly innovative experience.”

After logging into Watch CNNx with their TV provider username and password, viewers can:

Access 24 hours of CNN television rundowns to see segments they’ve missed or what’s coming up next.

Control their own news experience by previewing or scrolling back through the segments they want to watch.

Go deep on any topic or issue covered with related digital content automatically curated in real time – articles, images, social commentary, and more.

Watch CNN TV live or on demand.

CNNx not only adapts to the breaking news cycle, it actually gets better.

Available via the CNN App for iPad to customers of select TV providers today.  It will be offered to all TV subscribers later this year. Additionally, Watch CNNx will debut on set-top boxes and CNN.com by the end of 2014.

If credentialed press would like to access a 30-day trial of CNNx, please contact Jenna DiMaria at jenna.dimaria@cnn.com.