CBS Launches IRC With Video Player, Calls it Social Viewing Rooms

Interactive congolmerate CBS has announced the launch of "social viewing rooms" today. These rooms combine videos (from CBS) plus chat and polls. So basically if you remember IRC and slap a video window on the side, you have this new concept from CBS. The idea is smart, the longer people remain within the CBS framework, the more ads they can serve up and generate more interaction with their users.

The social media rooms would have more appeal if stars from the shows were in the chats while the shows played live. Currently in the "lounge" are a variety of CBS shows including: soap operas, Survivor, CSI, Beverly Hills 90210 pilot (the original), The Love Boat and Melrose Place. One might think that a show like "The Big Bang Theory" would be perfect for this. I guess people would rather chat about how Kimberly killed the people in the apartment building!

Intel is the initial sponsor for the social media rooms. CBS notes regarding the sponsorship, "the Social Viewing Rooms let technology leaders such as Intel weave its brand into the center of the entertainment experience with a unique combination of user engagement and brand integration."

Hollywood Reporter believes that reality shows stand to benefit the most from these social media rooms. I’d tend to agree as long as the rooms match up with when the shows are on live. If not live, then it’s the same as chatting on IRC or any web-based chat service.