BBC launches Antiques Roadshow synchronous app

The BBC has launched its planned live, synchronous companion screen app for its Antiques Roadshow series, following the success of the Red Button version of its playalong game, launched in October.

The first app-enabled Antiques Roadshow broadcast will be this Sunday, but the app is already available for use with last week’s episode on the BBC iPlayer. The Red Button game has been used by over 1.5 million viewers since its launch.

The app, which will be available on a range of Android and Apple devices, lets users play a live multiple-choice valuation game while the show is airing. Viewers can play against others in the same room and compare rankings, from ‘novice’ to ‘expert’.

The app will use audio recognition technology to synchronise smartphones and tablets with the TV screen, allowing viewers to play along while watching the show on iPlayer as well as live, without the need to enter any programming information.

Victoria Jaye, head of IPTV and TV online at the BBC, said: “We wanted our first live and synchronous companion experience to appeal to a mainstream audience and create a real event in the living room for families across the UK – the Antiques Roadshow mobile app does just that. It builds on our successful Red Button playalong quizzes which regularly attract millions of viewers a week.”

As reported by Digital TV Europe last May, the app is intended to the be the first of a number of such services that will build on audience needs related to programmes as they are being watched, using its experience with red button services as a guide.