"Revenge" season finale will be part of social network experiment
(CBS/AP) In an effort to encourage more people to watch television live, the two upcoming "Revenge" episodes will be very smart phone- and tablet-friendly.
There's an enticement, too. People who download and click onto the "Into Now" application during the May 16 and May 23 showings of "Revenge" become eligible for a free summer trip to New York's Hamptons beach area, where the drama's story is based.
ABC and Yahoo have teamed up, trying to take advantage of the growing trend of multiscreen use, or people who spend time on their phones or iPads while the TV is on. Yahoo's "Into Now" app tries to make all of that easier.
"The world changed dramatically with all the smartphones and tablets," said Adam Cahan, vice president of "Into Now." "People are multitasking while they are watching TV. We came up with a way of connecting that community."
When used, the app can identify what show a viewer is watching and immediately spot Facebook friends who are doing the same thing, Cahan said. It taps into Twitter feeds about the show, including those from actors and producers.
"We know the finale is going to be big," said Victoria Chew, vice president of strategic marketing partnerships at ABC. "We know the story lines are going to be things that the fans are going to buzz about and talk about when it's over. We wanted to encourage fans to watch it live."
While most television is still viewed live, the rapid growth of digital video recorders usage and video on demand means many more fans are watching programs later than when they are aired on TV, and networks have a harder time measuring this viewership. It is considered a factor in a major ratings slump at the networks this spring.
The Nielsen company estimated that 44 percent of all U.S. homes with TVs had DVRs in April, up from 19 percent in September 2007. Nielsen said 8 percent of all TV viewing is now material recorded on DVRs.
"Revenge" stars Emily VanCamp, Madeleine Stowe and Gabriel Mann. It airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC.
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