Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Netflix is Developing a Slate of Specials That Will Let Viewers Choose the Next Storyline in a TV Episode or Movie, Report Says (bloomberg.com)

Posted by msmash on from the shape-of-things-to-come dept.

Netflix is about to let you decide how your favorite show will end, Bloomberg reported Monday. From the report: The streaming service is developing a slate of specials that will let viewers choose the next storyline in a TV episode or movie, according to people familiar with the matter. The company expects to release the first of these projects before the end of this year, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are still private.

Viewers will get to choose their own storylines in one episode of the upcoming season of "Black Mirror," the Emmy-winning science-fiction anthology series. The show is famous for exploring the social implications of technology, including an episode where humans jockey to receive higher ratings from their peers. The fifth season of the show is expected to be released in December.

The foray into choose-your-own-adventure programming represents a big bet on a nascent form of entertainment known as interactive TV. As Netflix expands around the world, it's looking for new ways to lure customers. By blending elements of video games with traditional television, the company could create a formula that can be applied to any number of series.

5 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. Haven't they learned anything? by CastrTroy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Haven't they learned anything from cases such as Boaty-McBoatface, Taylor Swifts Biggest Fan,or sending her to a school for the deaf, or sending Pitbull to Alaska

    Leaving the choice up to the Internet, or even just Netflix subscribers isn't going to result in the best storylines, or even the storylines that necessarily reflect what actual people want to see.

    --

    Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    1. Re:Haven't they learned anything? by fazig · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The essential problem with Boaty-McBoatface wasn't that they put it up for a vote on the internet, it was that they allowed user entries.
      Give people a pre defined list of options and let them choose from. Have contingency plans for every option they can choose.
      This principle has been working for Choose Your Own Adventure books and video games since the 80's.

    2. Re:Haven't they learned anything? by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 4, Informative

      Leaving the choice up to the Internet, or even just Netflix subscribers isn't going to result in the best storylines, or even the storylines that necessarily reflect what actual people want to see.

      My favorite example of this is Imgur Let's play: Top comment decides what action Luke does next

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    3. Re:Haven't they learned anything? by smooth+wombat · · Score: 5, Funny

      Can we have at least ONE /. story that doesn't descend into politics?

      No. VI forever!

      --
      We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
  2. Could be disapointing for the viewer by bickerdyke · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If you are presented with 5 different ways a story ends, people would want to know how it really ends or which one is correct.

    Those "choose your adventure" books always had one real ending (killing the princess and rescue the dragon.. whatever.. there's a reason why they work well with plain vanilla fantasy) and you had to get to that ending.

    --
    bickerdyke