Bravo Now for iPad – NBC’s Attempt at Making its Linear TV Channels Interactive
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NBC Universal just released its new app Bravo Now, an app designed to be a companion to live television viewing, with full integration with the “Talk Bubble”, a chat network Bravo recently launched in order to connect its viewers with its producers and the stars of its shows.
Whether you are a fan of the channel or not, NBC’s attempt at making the iPad the interactive extension of the TV screen is interesting, as the idea behind the app is to make the TV watching experience much more intimate, in order to deepen Bravo’s viewer’s experience while they watch their favorite shows. The app allows users to vote, connect with Bravo talents, friends and fans – allowing for a real-time “watercooler” experience.
“Bravo Now restarts the conversation around live viewing,” said Hsia, Senior Vice President, Digital Media, Bravo. “It’s a great companion application for viewers who want to deepen their experience while they watch the shows. [...] At the core, it’s a companion application to our linear content, combining the fun functionality of the iPad and marrying it to the intense engagement of fresh content — a win-win for our audience and for us.”
Will such apps help slow down the current shift from Live TV viewing to on-demand/online viewing (Hulu, ABC.com, Netflix…)? Hard to tell, but Bravo Now is an interesting attempt at securing the channel’s fan base.
