Television broadcasters develop interactive formats and innovative experiences on both TV & mobile devices which draw attention on humanitarian or ecological issues. Interactivity also allows television broadcasters to learn more about viewers’ concerns and taste through interactive programmes that stimulate their engagement.

Serious games are inspired by current issues as the refugees’ faith

The French-German broadcaster Arte has developed a text-message-based game, Bury Me My Love, between a Syrian migrant, Nour, and her husband Majd who advices her back in Syria. The game’s mechanism is drawn from WhatsApp, often used by migrants to stay in touch with their relatives at home. The interface mimics the messaging app, players must assist Nour in her choices which consider her budget, her mood and their relationship. Discovery has also set up an online humanitarian challenge inspired by its documentary Genius exploring the iconoclast behind Einstein’s scientific achievements. Chasing Genius revolves around 3 critical issues: sustainability, global health and hunger. Applicants submit a one-minute video in which they expose their solution to those issues to an eclectic panel of professionals. Creating original contact points with the audience is not the only opportunity allowed by interactivity.

Television broadcasters can also learn more about viewers’ concerns and taste through interactive programmes that stimulate their engagement

The Norwegian broadcaster TV Norge has broadcast the game show Lost in Time that uses Interactive Mixed Reality on both TV and mobile devices. In this concept game, three contestants are transported into different eras where they compete in a series of challenges with the aim of winning one jackpot prize. Online players go further than triggering engagement, they develop multi-screen strategies to educate their young audience. Netflix launched its first interactive show, Puss in Book: Trapped in Epic Tale, a feature that relies on interactive storytelling. The show uses interactive cut scenes to allow viewers to select from branching decision paths. The viewer must choose how the story develops. Thus, Netflix analyses which choices young viewers are making to better understand what they enjoy in their programming.

Attracting a young audience is a crucial goal for traditional and pure players

YouTube helps to reach this key target and is a stepping stone for young talents who can experiment various forms of creation. The French broadcaster TF1 has produced a new mini series with Norman, Cyprien and Natoo, three French YouTubers. In Presque Adultes, they interpret their own roles as they express the difficult transition to adulthood using humour. Besides, in Finland, Arttu Lindeman was discovered through YouTube as a singer. Now, he has his own TV show, Lindemania, on TV5 in which he receives famous guests who talk about and play music.

Pure players’ rapid evolution forces traditional players to reinvent their programming and multi-screen strategies. Indeed, television broadcasters create entry points with their audience, as interactive programmes on current issues or inspired by popular shows, famous YouTubers, to meet their expectations.

All the facts and figures of these programmes (and much more!) can be found in the 4-Screen Quarterly Report, Edition 2 2017. The report was released in July 2017. For further information, please contact us!

Source: Eurodata TV – 4Screen Quarterly report 2017 – Edition 2 / Relevant Partners