The Walking Dead poster art – Image from cdn.ficgohub.com (http://cdn.ficgohub.com/ficmicrosites/ficmicrosites-en/media/365/hl_980x551.jpg)
Every idea needs its point of difference. And as unique as fighting zombies in a post-apocalyptic world can seem, re-killing the dead has become more and more popular, possibly even slowly wedging its way into the esteem aspect of some North American need hierarchies.
So how do zombie-based mediums stay different? Well, Fox’s The Walking Dead has created an Apple App that allows viewers to make predictions about the show’s outcomes while watching. Essentially, it’s like a live game of Clue where viewers make predictions about what character will make how many kills and with what weapon, and then compare their stats and scores with friends over Facebook and Twitter. It works through your Iphone, Ipod, and Ipad, using their mics to pick up bits of data encoded in the show’s audio track to sync the episode you are watching with the App.
Above all, the app is a link between consumers. Encouraging viewers to use their tablets while watching television, an act that 88% of Americans admit to doing, not only fully engages the audience, but also provides an interactive point of difference from other shows. In the same way that Lululemon ties customers together through health, Fox’s new App provides the same sort of community appeal, by supplying a free and unique service that ties customers to an existing paid product.
For the BBC news article click here.