According to iSpy the site TWoP allows television show veiwers to chat about the shows they are watching. The author argues that these "chatters" are really doing the bulk of work for the production companies while unwittingly filling out a survey and giving information to the production companies about their shows. While TWop has faded away the idea of television show chat has not, CBS has added this function to their website, while Facebook.com has also added this function as a group users can add. The fact that television shows have added this function to their main website does add to the point that the author makes about viewers becoming the slaves to the producers while doing their labor for them.
Currently, I am watching a classic Star Trek television show (for class…not pleasure to be sure) and CBS offers a chat room for this show as well. It is unsure exactly how CBS plans to use this information other than to decide what should remain on their website and what should go. As for the Facebook function, it provides viewers with many shows regardless of channel or producer and seemingly equals out the idea that the producers are running the show, but does not disprove the idea that production companies use these functions to gain information.
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I’ve seen this chat application on some of the TV shows I watch. And depending on what kind of network you’re watching, it’s fun or it can be distracting. For example, I watch The Hills on MTV and people’s little comments pop up and it’s funny to watch them make fun and bash some of the show’s characters. But when it’s other network shows that are more important to me- like the news or politics, I’d rather focus on the issue and not be disturbed.
I agree with Jessica, while these little chat things can be fun to watch, others can be distracting. It is fun to see what other people thik about the shows that you are watching becaue they may offer a view point that you hadn't had before.
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