Everyone hates re-runs. They’re episodes you’ve likely already seen, being run out of order because there is no new content to run. But Fox may have just figured out a way to make them more interesting: Twitter.
The television network will be airing old episodes for two of its shows, Fringe and Glee, with Twitter commentary along the bottom of the screen. But no, sadly, not just anyone can tweet anything and have it be on national television, these will be moderated streams. And most of the it will be taken up by the tweets of the two shows’ casts and producers, apparently.
During the episodes, the cast members and producers will be watching and tweeting live. Fans be able to see their tweets on the bottom portion of their television screens or can follow along on Twitter itself by checking out the FRINGEonFOX and GLEEonFOX Twitter accounts. Select tweets from fans following along will be put on air.
Of course, CNN and some of the other television news networks have been using Twitter commentary for months now, and often put tweets on air. But doing the same on one of the major TV networks during prime time is another level of mainstream adoption for Twitter. It’s an extension of what we wrote about back in May, Twitter expanding beyond a simple web service.
So many Twitter users are already using the service to talk about their favorite television shows — as I’m writing this, three of the top ten trending topics are: Mad Men, Entourage, and True Blood — so integrating the two would seem to make sense. Now, if this were during a shows first run, the tweets might be distracting, but during a re-run, they add value.
It’s not clear if there is any financial deal in place for this, but this is clearly not the Twitter television show that got all the buzz a few months back. Money or no money, this is a great deal for Twitter.
Fucking noooooooooooooo man!!!
I am so sick of this twitter crap. Now it is invading one of my favorite shows. Make it stop, please make it stop =(
The worst was watching football and having to endure these 60 year old men talk about TO’s tweets.. it went on for 10 minutes.. I wanted to take a pen and shove it in my ear… you know the strange thing about twitter… I still haven’t found it to be indispensable. I just get this feeling that in a year or so we are all going to wake up and be like who cares what polly had for breakfast.. and get up and go to work…
would be super to have ESPN classic with the old players and sportcasters (ali-frazier? 1956 world series? MJ tweeting old bulls-pistons series?)
I love Twitter, but this is retarded.
A great deal for Twitter- Nowadays Twitter is expanding more and more especially beyond the web service it was supposed to be. Now Twitter is joining with Fox, a leading television channel in an interesting way..Both the episodes Fringe and Glee of Fox are going to use Twitter commentary along the bottom of the screen. It would be a unique experience watching tweets on screen
Money or no money, this is a great deal for Twitter.
>>>> Twitter deals with these television networks is to go worldwide. Then, twitter users would have a live tweet chat. Displaying tweets on screen will get more mileage for twitter as a brand.
A long time ago when mystery science theater was moving from sci-fi to comedy central they did something like this. It was hilarious. They used IRC though.
Alerting you to this typo:
“And most of the it will be taken up by…” (2nd paragraph)
You like it or not that’s gonna be more and more adopted by TV networks.
http://confusao...l.wordpress.com
Finally someone thinks of something a little creative to spruce up those re-runs a bit. This could be a way for networks to generate some lost money.
are you nuts..? Who gives a crap what some actor says.. I hate those DVD extras where you have some actor talk. They get paid to act… tell me do you think Paris Hilton would ever be able to tweet anything insightful? Can you imagine Seinfeld with tweets… it would ruin the show..
agreed, plus this is not a new idea Nick.
networks have been doing this with sms/txt and email for along time.. remember when ’short codes’ were being promoted everywhere?
they have just slapped the new brand over the same old service and it looks like people are buying it.
this adds NO value to ANYthing whatsoever.
In terms of ‘revenue’ this might be a step back, not only is it not new by using twitter, which is mostly free.
SMS+shortcode previously meant engagement but via short codes(mostly premium), which brings in stupid amount of money even for not so good content (esp. chat with scantily cladded people) by using twitter, it is arguably might be moving backwards.
As SMS is probably the only truely pervasive ‘ways’ for consumers to interact (as they don’t need to download any twitter client and get to know/use twitter)..
however, given the hype and target audience of programs like Fringe, twitter and the possibility of interacting with cast and producers/director, might create enough buzz +enough novelty value for it to work..
IMHO, it is just buzz, unless and until it has a valid business model that helps content owner to further ‘monetise’ the IP and first, 2nd and 3rd runs of shows..
It might however be a valid first step.. and hope twitter is still around in 5 yrs time!
@GarethWong
I think this is a great idea! This builds value and clearly encourages fan participation.
Expect the idiocy with the sublime in every new hot trend.
You can always Twitter a protest stream…
It’s Real-life Beavis and Butthead!
http://www.ccs....bnb-quotes.html
I think there’s a business niche here for live *unauthorized* Tweets.
Kinda surprised at the backlash comments on this… a tip… if you hate twitter and you don’t like twitter comments on your tv shows… don’t read them. novel, i know.
The thing is – the comments take up most of the screen and you can’t elect to turn them off. I walked away from the TV tonight because I couldn’t take it anymore. Take note producers – one less person watching the ads!
Moderated streams? Just sounds like a way for Fox to get free content.
I’ve never heard of Glee, but Fringe is a great show. Pretty cool :)
Great deal for twitter, not necessarily for the viewer. Everybody is entitled to their opinion but I’m not sure what type of value this will add to the user’s experience.
Ryan B
I remember when Spike TV tried to liven up ST:TNG with live comments. It was awful.
Stop this – it is very annoying. I didn’t see this on on regular TV and I can’t stand this twitter crap. Stop it Stop it Stop it
I can’t stand watching this junk at the bottom of the screen…
If for some reason, I decided I wanted to read twitter comments, guess what I’d do – I’d go to the twitter page and read them… I don’t want them forcefed to me… personally, if they want to do this, they should put it in a captioned stream so that people can turn it on/off at will… but no, no one would freaking use it, so, we get it forced down our throats…
Please make it stop! I agree that it doesn’t add to the viewer’s experience. If folks want to blog about a show they will seek it out. The rest of us want to be entertained by the TV – let us be!
I really don’t watch tv, but I am on a business trip. I was interested in Fringe, but had to stop watching because of the aggravating twits. It was just awful.
Stop with the twitter Crap on my TV…I pay for TV service…NOt this twitter Crap
I hate hate hated the Twitter crap taking up a big chunk of my screen. Couldn’t read it anyway. I turned Fringe off because it was so unwatchable. And endured it with Glee because I hadn’t seen it yet. It was so canned and fake. Please STOP and never do it again!