Next evolution: Interactive TV

During some stressful times, I just hate technology but, on most others, I'm fascinated by the constant innovation that is disrupting our world. Every aspect of our daily lives is being touched and changed by technology. Therefore, it was about time that path-breaking, new age tech would reach the world of entertainment. Interactive television is well and truly here, and what we are experiencing now is just the beginning of the evolving face of entertainment.

Not long ago, we had only one channel, the government-run Doordarshan. In the succeeding decade, we witnessed a barrage of news and entertainment channels. Life seemed hopeless without TV! And then, the Internet boomed followed by the spread of smartphones. Today, we consume entertainment and news through our palm-top devices. And TV? Who watches it nowadays?

It was only a matter of time till over-the-top (OTT) content replaced the idiot box just like video killed the radio star. Netflix, Amazon Prime Videos, Hotstar, are joined by a league of regional OTT networks, and we are spoilt for choice! No more waiting for the show to air and tolerate the numerous advertisement breaks. No need to record the shows on premium set top boxes to watch later at leisure. Now, we switch on, pause, and replay all content, whenever and however we want. Surfing channels has a new, more addictive avatar.

But don't get too comfortable with your tub of butter popcorn on that couch just yet. There is more innovation coming your way; one that can literally have you at the edge of your seats! Remember that time when you were sitting through a movie or a show, dying to tell the actors to do something differently? "If I was in their place, I would not have done XYZ. I would have definitely gone ahead with ABC". Remember mumbling that? Well, the latest innovation in entertainment technology is giving you an option to engage and participate in the content you're viewing!

Leading this interactive television revolution is Netflix. Last year, this OTT platform released some interactive content for kids and followed it up for adults. I got whiff of interactive TV while watching the movie, 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch'. The plot hovers around a young programmer of video games who is attempting to adapt a fantasy novel into a game. As I was asked to choose the programmer's next step (should he spill coffee on his computer's keyboard or throw it on the ground/should he hit his father or walk off), my mind was blown. The most amazing aspect, however, was the possibility of multiple endings. For now, there would be limited endings but I'm sure technology is currently underway to devise an infinite number of conclusions. The only time I felt so overawed was when I watched the German thriller movie, 'Run Lola Run' two decades ago. The protagonist's life kept repeating itself in some kind of loop depending on her choices. 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch' takes this feeling to the next level.

The recently released Bear Grylls' 'You Vs Wild' (also on Netflix) is just nuts (in a good way)! The adventurer will ask you (the audience) whether he should jump into the abyss or face a mountain lion or eat termites or mushy bugs! We have the massive responsibility of helping Grylls find his way back to civilisation. Well not really, since all of this has been shot in advance; it is an illusion of choice but the novelty and thrill of it, is extremely immersive.

It remains to be seen if the interactive TV format finds mass following since some may complain of interruption of story pace and plot. But the evolution of content is here and it's only a matter of time before more of it comes our way. Who knows, maybe we will be stars of our own show (like in Cable Guy) and other audiences can tell us what to choose in real time. Now that would truly be reality TV!

(The writer is a journalist and media entrepreneur. The views expressed are strictly personal)