Watching television is better together. When being physically together is not possible, Dawn Technology contributed to an innovative browser-based solution that allows people to watch their favourite programmes together remotely, with live interaction and synchronised playback.
Certain television programmes are simply meant to be watched together. With friends, with family, with people who make the moments more meaningful. Yet, distance, schedules or circumstances such as lockdowns can make physical gatherings impossible.
The challenge was to recreate the shared viewing experience without sharing the same physical space. Viewers needed to see each other, talk to each other and react in real time, while watching exactly the same content at exactly the same moment. The experience had to feel natural, intuitive and immediate, without complex installation processes. The solution also had to be accessible on everyday devices, directly through the browser.
Dawn Technology was responsible for developing the core app functionality inside the video player that makes watching together at a distance possible. This functionality was built using the video connection services of Sceenic.
Users start by selecting their favourite programme and activating the “watch together” option. With a single link, they invite friends or family via messaging, email or social media. All participants then enter a shared virtual room in which the video playback is fully synchronised.
Webcams and audio can be activated for live conversation, while chat is available as an alternative form of interaction. The person who initiates the session automatically controls the playback for everyone. When the host pauses the programme, it stops for all viewers simultaneously. The system supports up to four camera connections at once, with multiple people able to join behind a single camera if they share a household.
At this stage, the solution is available exclusively via the browser on smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers. The concept is intentionally kept lightweight and experimental, allowing for fast validation and continuous improvement.
Watching TV Together shows how digital innovation can restore social connection in times of physical distance. Friends and families can once again enjoy programmes together, react in real time and truly share the moment, even when miles apart.
The platform laid the foundation for future expansion to native mobile apps, proving how browser-based technology can quickly transform an idea into a meaningful shared experience.
RTL bereikt elke dag miljoenen mensen. Niet alleen via tv-uitzendingen, maar ook via digitale platforms en apps. Voor RTL zijn we de vaste partner bij het advies- en ontwikkeltraject van digitale oplossingen.
Netwerkbedrijf Alliander voorziet een derde van alle adressen in Nederland van energie. Om ook de online aanwezigheid solide te laten zijn, betrok het bedrijf ons bij de bouw van drie belangrijkste websites.
What our customers say
“Dawn Technology is a reliable partner who truly understands our needs. They adapt quickly, think along with us, and deliver a solution that perfectly aligns with our way of working.”
Let’s build interactive platforms that bring people together.
