Over the years, interactive technology has evolved. The telephone has allowed us to actively communicate with people half way across the world. The internet and specifically blogging has made the world wide web a large forum for dialogue and debate. We now also have interactive television. One specific show, Acceptable.tv, is taking interactivity to another level. Below is what the VH1 show is essentially about
“Every week, we start with episodes from five Acceptable.tv shows. Watch them on TV, watch them on the web, watch 'em on your fancy phone. We don't care how you watch, just so long as you DO watch. ...
Power to the people! Vote for your two favorite shows and keep your fingers crossed. There can be only one two (sorry, Highlander). Our crack team of hyper-intelligent chimpanzees will tally the votes. Every Friday night, the two winning shows will be back with new episodes, joined by three new shows.”
The goal of the show is to give control to the viewers. If they don’t like one show, they can vote it off in hopes a better one will replace it. We all have seen TV shows involving voting but this is a bit unique. You essentially have power over what shows air. So is TV you vote for the wave of the future?
Well, probably not quite yet. I find it hard to believe that Hollywood would give such control to its audience. Money is made by those who control programming and with such a viewer centered form of television, pockets would be running dry. Nice try, Acceptable.tv, but it looks like you will be the sole competitor in this race.
Kristen OGorman @ Sat, 03/24/2007 - 10:54pm
It seems more like a creative marketing ploy than VH1 actually giving power to the viewers. Essentially, viewers already have control over what's on tv; if a show is getting bad ratings, it will get pulled. VH1 just wants to draw attention to these new shows they're trying to create, and it'll probably be pretty effective.