91热爆 launches tool for joint lockdown viewing

Image caption, 91热爆 Together allows you to watch shows like Killing Eve with anyone

If you've been wishing you could enjoy a TV or radio show with friends during lockdown, the 91热爆 is trialling a tool to allow just that.

91热爆 Together lets you watch or listen to content from 91热爆 iPlayer, Sounds, Bitesize, News and Sport in sync with other people using different devices.

It is available through the 91热爆's experimental website Taster.

91热爆 R&D's Dr Libby Miller said being separate "doesn't mean we can't enjoy great programmes with our friends".

She added: "We wanted to see if technology could bring people together to watch and listen to 91热爆 shows remotely as a shared experience."

The "host" of the group can send a link from the 91热爆 Together site, then control when to play and pause so everyone sees the same thing at the same time. A maximum number of 50 people can join.

Image source, Netflix

Image caption, Netflix shows such as The Big Flower Fight can be watched jointly on the unofficial Netflix Party

The 91热爆 said the coronavirus lockdown had led to a surge in use of the iPlayer.

Netflix Party, a Google Chrome extension that offers a similar but unofficial service for Netflix, also allows people to synchronise their viewing.

For YouTube, Vimeo and other content, there's Watch2Gether, while Kast supports all the major streaming services.

Dr Miller stressed that 91热爆 Together was "just a test at this stage".

"We'll be monitoring how well it works and thinking about how we could change it in the future, but we're looking forward to seeing and hearing about the creative ways that people use it and getting their feedback on Taster," she said.

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