Smart Screen
Vast Media Smart Screen Round-Up: Snapchat Exclusives, Facebook Chatbots
Story Highlights
Here’s a run-down of recent second screen-related entertainment items, via Berlin-based research and consulting company Vast Media.
• Broadcaster BT Sport went all-out for the June 3 UEFA Champions League final, offering a free, multi-camera 360-degree and virtual reality stream of the match via the BT Sport YouTube channel and its dedicated VR app. Available for owners of Gear VR headsets, the VR option allowed viewers to choose eight different viewing angles in the National Stadium of Wales for the finale between Real Madrid and Juventus Turin.
• For its June 22-25 “BET Experience” festival in Los Angeles, leading up to the June 25 BET Awards, the network has introduced a Facebook Messenger chatbot, geared toward engaging both regular viewers and on-site attendees with regular updates about the festival, along with exclusive bonus content. The chatbot provides users unique GIFs for sharing across social media and answers questions about the BET entertainment festival.
• First premiering in 2000, MTV’s unscripted series “Cribs” was among the early reality TV shows that garnered a regular, dedicated audience. On June 3, MTV relaunched the series, exclusively on social media outlet Snapchat, with new episodes — featuring the lavish homes of actors, musicians and athletes — will debut each week. Lasting around three or four minutes each, the episodes are available on Snapchat Discover for 48 hours after they debut.
• Ahead of the June 8 general election in the United Kingdom, broadcaster BBC offered up a Facebook Messenger chatbot that offered up-to-the-minute election new, information about campaign issues, and profiles of politicians on the ballot. The bot let users choose up-front whether they were politically savvy or merely curious, allowing the bot to deliver content accordingly. Via text, graphics and BBC news links, the bot aimed to deliver comprehensive information about the parties, the politicians and the key issues of the election.
• Riding high ratings for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” CBS on May 30 debuted an immersive, 360-degree backstage and on-stage tour of the Ed Sullivan Theater, with Colbert offering viewers a comedic take on the history of the venue, and a look at the people and processes behind the taping of the show.
