Few things have lifted Rojhan PaydarB次元官网网址檚 spirits during the COVID-19 pandemic quite like a Netflix watch party.
Isolated inside her home, the Toronto resident is too often short on social opportunities and long on streaming options. So like many people, sheB次元官网网址檚 recreated the experience of watching Netflix with friends through an unofficial web browser application called Teleparty, formerly known as Netflix Party.
ItB次元官网网址檚 been an opportunity for Paydar to gather with pals on a virtual couch while they gasp over the twists of true crime series, B次元官网网址淯nsolved Mysteries.B次元官网网址� Even more often, sheB次元官网网址檚 used the app with her boyfriend for date nights watching the dysfunction unfold on B次元官网网址淭iger KingB次元官网网址� and other bingeable series.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes weB次元官网网址檇 eat dinner and set up our webcams to see each other,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淜nowing he was there and we were doing something in real-time B次元官网网址� it felt really good and made me less lonely.B次元官网网址�
Not long ago, viewing party technology was a tool reserved for unique situations: a long-distance couple or fans of a niche TV series searching for like-minded people.
But a year into the pandemic, weekly rituals have evolved, and online watch parties have proven many of us are desperate for some semblance of connection.
As the winter months stretch on, and strict stay-at-home orders grip large parts of the country, observers say the watch party, and apps that help make it happen, are due for a second wave of popularity.
B次元官网网址淚 think we may have seen a cultural shift,B次元官网网址� suggested Daniel Keyes, associate professor of cultural studies at the University of British Columbia.
B次元官网网址淭he pandemic and the fact we had to self-isolate totally accelerated it. It made it more mainstream.B次元官网网址�
For younger generations raised on YouTube and Twitch, watch parties are already part of the zeitgeist. Everyone else, including streaming giants themselves, seem to be playing cultural catchup.
Last year, as the pandemic wore on, Amazon Prime B次元官网网址 introduced group chat elements into the laptop version of its platform. Disney Plus took a more restrained approach with a feature that allows up to seven people to sync their screens, but only communicate through emojis.
Other streamers, such as Netflix and Crave, have so far chosen not to launch social elements on their platforms. That move could be strategic as the companies observe a sea change in how some viewers consume television, suggested Carmi Levy, director at technology advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 almost as if the snow globe has been shaken and companies like Netflix are waiting for everything to settle down before they decide where to place their bets,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淪ocial TV is a thing and it isnB次元官网网址檛 going anywhere. ItB次元官网网址檚 very much like remote work: considered the exception before the pandemic, but now the rule.B次元官网网址�
Levy said the entertainment industry couldnB次元官网网址檛 have predicted how quickly the change took hold with casual viewers. For years, upstart tech companies launched second-screen watch party innovations, and most of them failed miserably.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 left the door open for the latest generation of alternatives to capitalize on filling the void, among them TwoStream, a paid monthly watch party option, and Syncplay, which is free.
One of the most ambitious newcomers is Scener, a venture-funded operation out of Seattle that currently supports the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, Vimeo and horror platform Shudder.
In a few clicks, viewers can react to a show through their webcam or type out thoughts on their keyboard.
Co-founder Joe Braidwood said replicating the in-person experience, in particular, B次元官网网址渢he laughter, the screams and the horror,B次元官网网址� was a goal of his company long before the pandemic. But it wasnB次元官网网址檛 always easy getting others to see the value.
B次元官网网址淭wo years ago I would talk to investors about social TV and they would laugh at me,B次元官网网址� he recalled over a Zoom chat.
B次元官网网址淭hey told me, B次元官网网址楶eople donB次元官网网址檛 want social experiences when theyB次元官网网址檙e watching television.B次元官网网址� But all you need to do is look on Twitter.B次元官网网址�
Even before the pandemic, he said, people were engaging over social media platforms about their favourite shows. Now, since everyoneB次元官网网址檚 holed up in their homes, ScenerB次元官网网址檚 growth has been exponential.
Cumulative weekly minutes of programming watched grew nearly 42,000 per cent from March 2020 to January 2021 (57,785 minutes versus 24.2 million minutes), according to data provided by the company.
B次元官网网址淧eople who havenB次元官网网址檛 hung out with their best friend while watching B次元官网网址楾he Flight AttendantB次元官网网址� or shared a family Christmas while watching an old classic movie on Scener, they just donB次元官网网址檛 know what this feels like,B次元官网网址� he added.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 this real texture to itB次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 warm engagement with people that you care about.B次元官网网址�
Hoovie, a Vancouver-based virtual watch party service, aims to bridge the gap between art house cinema outings and the comfort of a living room chat.
Hosts can dive into the companyB次元官网网址檚 independent film catalogue and book ticketed showings for small groups, typically in the range of 10 to 20 people. After the movie, theyB次元官网网址檙e encouraged to engage in a webcam conversation on the platform thatB次元官网网址檚 inspired by the filmB次元官网网址檚 themes.
Co-founder Fiona Rayher describes Hoovie as a platform meant to evoke those experiences outside the cinema where groups of people B次元官网网址� sometimes strangers B次元官网网址� would passionately discuss what theyB次元官网网址檇 just watched and maybe head to a nearby restaurant for drinks.
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檇 meet new people and youB次元官网网址檇 stay connected,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚t was all serendipitous.B次元官网网址�
Hoovie plans to debut a B次元官网网址渂ook club for moviesB次元官网网址� early this year thatB次元官网网址檒l build on connecting movie fans. Every month, subscribers will gather for online screenings that include a post-film conversation with members, filmmakers and critics. Each film will be rounded out with a wine pairing sent by mail.
Selling nostalgia for the pre-pandemic days may sound appealing in lockdown, but the question remains on how attractive watch parties will be once a COVID-19 vaccine is widely available.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a question Paydar said she thinks about often as she logs onto a watch party for another episode of B次元官网网址淯nsolved Mysteries.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲henever someone asks, B次元官网网址業f COVID ended right now, where would you go?B次元官网网址� the first thing I say is, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檇 like to go to a movie theatre,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 something about being in a physical theatre and going with a group of friendsB次元官网网址hose end-of-the-night goodbyes, getting late-night eats with my friends.. (weB次元官网网址檙e) creating memories I get to hold on to forever,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think that can be replaced.B次元官网网址�
David Friend, The Canadian Press
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