Imagine a future in which Facebook, because it’s amassed a massive network of people engaging with entertainment brands, becomes the payment platform of choice for those interactions.
That future is starting now, with Endemol announcing it will take votes for the German series of Big Brother via Facebook Credits.
One vote costs seven Facebook Credits, about €0.49. The producer is also looking at adopting the technology in all 31 countries where it operates, though will retain phone and SMS votes.
This will not be the only TV show using this tactic. In April, Mobile Interactive Group (MIG), a vendor which makes mobile apps that support engagement with talent shows liek Sky 1’s Got To Dance, enabled Facebook Credits in its technology platform. In February, rumour had it American Idol and X Factor U.S. would adopt Facebook Credits. Warner Bros has already charged 40 Facebook Credits ($4) for movie streaming.
Although paid Facebook voting is new to Big Brother Germany, one interesting thing to note is how Facebook Credits is facilitating producers’ migration from free to paid engagement services. In a previous series, they offered free voting on in-show challenges – these may now be switched to premium votes via Facebook Credits.