Want To Discuss Your Favorite Television Show Right Now? Download An App

Philo TV recently invited its users to host live, virtual viewing parties for NBC’s Chuck. It had done the same previously for followers of NBC’s Community and ABC’s Modern Family as well as Dancing With the Stars. For these parties to be a success, Philo TV users send out invitations to online friends from within the app. Friends then discuss the series before, during and after the broadcast. Discussing popular television shows has always made for good conversation. Years ago, people were said to have discussed their favorite series around “the water cooler.” Then, people began posting comments about television series' on Internet message boards. Postings about the latest television happenings then moved to FaceBook and Twitter. Today, the push is on to merge television conversation and social networking with smartphone apps. But, how popular is this? Real time conversation about television programs is becoming very popular. But, is this something that many of us are doing? Or, is this just a fad? On these two questions, the jury remains out. However, Philo TV isn’t alone in what it does. Apps such as those from GetGlue, Miso and Foursquare offer similar services and are sometimes among the most popular apps in the App Store.

Whenever I mention apps such as Philo TV to my friends and family, I often get looks of disbelief. The number one reason: they don’t want to be bothered during their favorite show such as Mad Men or Fringe. And, they certainly don't want to discuss the show in real time. However, opinions do vary by age group. The younger the person, the more popular apps such as Philo TV are; yet my own unofficial survey tells me that younger viewers are also those less likely to watch a television program when it actually airs on network television. Rather, they’d rather view it later through a DVR or service like Hulu. We’d like to know just how popular apps such as Philo TV are with our readers. Do you discuss television series' with others in real time via your iPhone/iPod touch? Leave your comments below.

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