If you’ve been watching any TV show recently, especially reality TV, you will be bombarded with hashtags (#) and mentions (@) of the Facebook accounts and twitter handles of the show, contestants and trending topics.
Social media has changed the way we consume media in general, and video is no exception. In a recent study by Neilson and Yahoo, it was found that 86 percent of mobile web users (and 92 percent of people aged 13 to 24) are using a mobile device while watching TV and one quarter of them are looking at related content to what they’re watching on screen. This is BIG news for people producing television in today’s media environment.
Trendrr, a service that provides data related to social media and television use, showed that NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” social media engagement increased by 1,585% from 2011 to 2012. “The Next Food Network Star” showed a 294% increase, and the trend continued from show to show including E!’s “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” and “So You Think You Can Dance.”
The numbers are staggering. So if you are considering a TV show, an online video channel, or anything with decent frequency, using social media as an advertising and promotional method shouldn’t be ignored. It’s important to engage the audience, get them talking about the show, and more. The best part is, it doesn’t cost a thing to get you name out to potentially hundreds of millions of people.
Check out the 2011 stats from Trendrr:
Photo from http://adage.com/article/trending-topics/1-social-tv-hit-year/231574/