Friday, 31 May 2013

Rewards for watching TV?

Is this another way to get people to feel rewarded for using one of Microsoft’s products?


A recent patent application has shown that Microsoft intent to have an achievement scheme set up for their customers who watch TV on their Xbox Live account. Microsoft has since the launch of the Xbox 360 had an achievement system which enabled players to share goals and objectives they have completed in certain games. 
According to a patent, filed by Microsoft in 2011, it would seem that Microsoft are looking to also want to reward their customers through a TV ecosystem. “Television viewing tends to be a passive experience for a viewer, without many opportunities for the viewer to engage or have interactive experiences with the presented content, the patent states. “To increase interactive viewing and encourage a user to watch one or more particular items of video content, awards and achievements may be tired to those items of video content. Producers, distributors, and advertisers of the video content may set viewing goals and award a viewer who has reached the goals”.

This method could become a great way for 3rd party advertisers to gain more awareness for their product. The Patent also notes that “additionally, by trying the awards and achievements to particular items of video or advertising content, viewer may be encourage to increase their viewer ship of the content, thus increasing advertising opportunities.

There is no confirmation as to what the achievement rewards the consumer, “an award may be a virtual award, such as an addition to a viewer score or an update to an avatar associated with the viewer” as well as “coupons for an advertised product or service, or an actual product”

I believe this is a great idea for companies trying to advertise their products as it also gives a reason for people to want to watch it as they will get rewarded for doing it as well as find a better attraction towards the product or service being advertised. As for being a set achievement though for gamers, I don’t like the idea that Television is going to become a big part in gamer’s way of achievements where people can show of their rewards in a gaming community due to watching TV. I’m sure more will be revealed shortly and will receive more positive feedback from the public.


http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/05/28/microsoft-patent-hints-at-achievements-for-watching-tv

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