WatchParty

WatchParty product enables users to invite their friends and family to come together and watch live broadcasts or OTT from the comfort of their homes. It offers numerous use cases from watching sports events, entertainment shows, YouTube or user-generated content from cloud platforms, Viewers can use the popular mobile messenger apps to create and manage groups while showing the chat in real-time on their TV screens.

Description

Following market demand, WatchParty has been taken to the next level by integration through web technologies reaching compatibility not only with Android TV operator STBs but also with Smart TVs. This means public broadcasters can now organize WatchParties for mass events offering a more interactive and engaging experience.
So how does it work? WatchParty integrates with your favorite messenger apps like Telegram Viber, Whatsapp, Line and others, No complicated setups. just through the Live TV app, invite your friends or family, and enjoy the content together while chatting in real-time. There are no limits on how many people can join a WatchParty. Whether it’s an intimate group of close friends or a global audience, the shared experience is there. And for broadcasters and telcos, this opens the door to hosting mass events and engage larger audiences - imagine the reach and engagement possibilities..
This product aligns perfectly with the future of interactive TV as it is available on any platform, whether its Android STB, SmartTV or PC, it is giving broadcasters and telcos a new, exciting way to engage their viewers and keep them connected through HbbTV portal. It’s not just watching TV anymore - it’s a shared experience.

Impact

Since this product is a prototype and not officially launched in the market yet, unfortunately we can not deliver real measurements. However, during the investigation phase and the feasibility study performed prior to this product's development, it has been identified that the audience watching TV wishes to find new attractive ways for engagement with the content. WatchParty brings two aspects together, watching TV and using social media messengers from the mobile device. The younger audience can engage on a higher level with the TV content via chatting availability and sharing emotions. Bringing the joy of shared experience is all what WatchParty is about.