Allen Weiner

A few updates following my recent report, “With Careful Execution, Simulstreaming Holds TV 2.0 Promise,” a view into the trend which allows communal online viewing of TV or video content:

CBS has jumped into the mix with “Viewing Room,” an application from CBS Labs which allows viewers to watch an episode of “How I Met Your Mother” in groups with the ability to chat or take quizzes. Details are sparse and there is no information on whether the technology is home grown or licensed from a third party such as Seetoo or Ekko TV.

Lycos Cinema, the company’s simulstreaming platform, currently is showing “Slacker Uprising,” a film by Michael Moore which looks at college voters in battleground states during the 2004 election. According to Lycos, the film is the most popular film in its communal viewing room since it launched in November 2006. Lycos reports that Michael Moore is interested in doing as director’s chat sometime in the future.