Forget Time Shifting, ConnecTV and Evite Create A Fun Second Screen Experience

Do you like TV?  How about parties?  Then listen close because a new partnership between Evite and ConnecTV, a new social video network for TV fans may be right up your alley. The two have joined forces to offer fans the ability to host and participate in LIVE TV get-togethers, featuring ConnecTV’s free app that lets users clip, comment and share their favorite six-second video snippets with friends across various social networks including Twitter and Facebook.

For starters, the two companies are focusing on creating special live viewing parties around major TV events such as the Golden Globes, the Academy Awards, the Superbowl, the Grammy’s, American Idol, and March Madness college basketball.

So how will it all work?

Evite will allow its users to create custom viewing party invitations to send out, and they are even offering participants party tips such as décor ideas and special recipes for snacks. This is starting to sound like a real party.

Of course, you will also need to download ConnecTV’s social video app (iOS only, Android in the works) to clip and share those six-second moments from whatever it is you are watching.

Once you have shared your clips, Evite and ConnecTV judges will decide the top clips LIVE during the events and award the winners in real-time.  Sounds pretty neat, doesn’t it?

The second screen experience

Currently, the second screen experience is still in its infancy, TV networks and shows are in the midst of trying to figure out how to best utilize the “second screen.”  I think ConnecTV’s approach is interesting, it brings people back to live TV by encouraging them to participate in it.  It also has the potential to drive viewership to a particular live event or show because of the sharing aspect built into the app.  All it takes is one viral six-second clip to create interest in whatever happens to be on TV.  Depending on usage of ConnecTV I could see it becoming a popular way for TV networks to generate buzz about their programming.

Sure, time shifting may be convenient but it sounds like if ConnecTV has its way, you won’t want to miss the original airing or live event.