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PalTalk Ventures Into Social TV
by Nick Gonzalez on July 16, 2007

Video and text chat service PalTalk is adding a new feature to their chat client, called “Screening Rooms”. Screening Rooms adds video streams to special PalTalk chat rooms where up to 5,000 users can watch videos simultaneously and chat about what’s going on. It’s like Kyte.tv, but in their desktop client. Joost also has a little used chat feature in their client.

messenger92-6-default.pngScreening Rooms will launch with content from ManiaTV, Heavy.com, blip.tv, and Rip.tv, but also allow users to upload their own personal videos. Uploaded videos can be publicly or privately screened. Shows repeat on a schedule or are initiated by the person who starts the room. Screening Rooms are available in beta today, but will be opened to everyone later this year.

The service comes with a few hurdles for new users though. The need to download another chat client may prove too cumbersome for some users who aren’t on the platform already and paying for video chat when Skype does it for free will prove a hard sell. However, existing PalTalk users should be happy to watch the latest viral videos and shows while chatting and seeing their friends.

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  • Can we also earn by posting videos and creating interesting rooms.

    http://www.tekno-world.blogspot.com

  • A great combination. But a greater competitor. Skype will definitely be a great remodel for others who want to imitate them. However, I think it will be difficult to compete with FREE. FREE is the new strategy.

  • PalTalk also gets FREE plugs everyday on the Opie and Anthony Show.

  • I like this idea of being able to allow users to discuss what they see, it can make discussion you may have had just face to face AFTER watching the TV program become a whole lot more interesting

  • I guess that this is going the Digg way. I don’t know if it so or not, but people will definitely want to vote for best personal video or things like that. Pretty interesting!

  • If Youtube implements a chat that is there while watching a video …

    IE (every video that has over 500k views gets a embedded (optional) chat) with concurrent viewers)

    - it would be the same, but you have to think there is a reason they havent done this .. - Rb

  • Can’t really see this taking off in general. Who wants to talk while watching something? Aren’t we always telling people to be quiet? Could be useful for companies who want to run focus groups on new advertising, etc.

  • Oh my god… like Meebo and HeyCosmo. There is nothing new about this news!!! Both Meebo and HeyCosmo is free vs pay $$$ w/PalTalk every month.

  • I’d rather chat about something with engagement, for example a chat on HeyCosmo or Justin.TV.

    On this live chat they will be lucky to get 7 viewers chatting at one time (and that would take some serious twitter promotions). I don’t see how this is going to take off.

  • Sarah,

    the last “LateNet” paltalk hosted was a Live show and the chat room had >2k members in it chatting to the host and around 60 webcams on.

    i use paltalk alot and many of thier chat rooms reach >1k members.

    this may work very well..

  • Dave, You must work for Paltalk to be making such brash statements. I need some of what your are smoking. 2K members and 60 webcams, that would bring down your slow servers. Tell me which of your chat romos have 1k members online?? Not a GOLD Priced paid room capable of 1000 people. So what does it cost for a 1000 or 2000 or 5000 member room per month? How masny of them have you sold or is Gary still giving them out free? Dont make statements, give proof, like room names, times they are open and rating?? You must be working for the marketing department for Paltalk.

    So call me,

    Just a Fool, but not gulible

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