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Ever wanted to discuss whether the new season for Sherlock season 3 was as engaging as the previous two? Makers of iDubba, an application that gives a television schedule for all channels in the country, and sets alerts to your favourite programmes, cater to this real-time engagement with TV shows. It offers a fun and interactive app called iCouch, which adds the element of social networking to TV consumption.
The iCouch is a LIVE TV chat platform, available for free on Android, and making a debut on iOS platform as well.
The chatting interface is simple and one needs to enter into chatrooms for different TV shows, where you can share views and use stickers to comment on the show. These chatrooms open only when the show is on air.
The app allows you to take surveys, give reviews, take polls; get more information about a programme; play alongside reality shows like Comedy Nights with Kapil and Bigg Boss, while making TV buddies who watch the same show.
You can also find out interesting facts, figures, trivia about a show/event and participate in quizzes/contests during the show. While the programme is running, favourite scenes can be captured easily and shared. The app iCouch also claims to allow the opportunity for those who play contests to win prizes. Like movie apps, you can read user reviews and ratings, give ratings. The etc buzz meter, placed among these tabs, also shows movie ratings. These elements are good, but it's neither new nor innovative.
Those who watch television only for the news will also find a little something for them here, which is 'Breaking News' updates. However, this segment is not updated by the minute like news channel apps.
For hardcore TV fans, these ingredients together definitely dish out an interesting, out-of-the-idiot-box app which aspires to bridge the gap between channels and the audience. The app is yet to become a rage, and the chatrooms will only be fun to be in if one has more members in it. It looks to be in a nascent stage right now, and to absolutely fulfil its objectives, it could possibly add more appealing features like live TV viewing or recording a show while you are away. And, well, if it could expand its base to TV networks abroad, this app has the potential to be the next best thing since You Tube.
