CBS Introduces Social Viewing Rooms

CBS Interactive is introducing a new online feature that allows TV viewers to watch CBS shows with their friends and interact with one another while they do so.

The new feature is called Social Viewing Rooms and is available for primetime, daytime, and CBS Classics. Social Viewing Rooms allows TV fans to chat, make comments, and or animate customized virtual objects on the screen.

Users will be able to find, make friends with, and have conversations with others who are fans of CBS programming. Viewers will see a list of everyone else in the room, and can chat with any or all of them directly during the show.

CBS says it Social Viewing Rooms forms a key part of its interactive division’s goal to engage TV fans online while adding a social dimension to the online viewing experience.

The company says that over time it will expand the Social Viewing to other CBS Interactive properties.

"The Web offers a unique opportunity to do more than just rebroadcast entertainment content," said Anthony Soohoo, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Entertainment at CBS Interactive.

"The CBS.com Social Viewing Room is a next-generation social media platform that lets users engage with each other and the content they are watching in a fun new way, while at the same time giving advertisers an opportunity to connect with this engaged audience."