AOL Wins Patent for IM TV

Now this is interesting for researchers. It is a potentially powerful application. Although AOL won't go into details, the patent describes the gist of the new technology: When an AOL user pops up her buddy list, it would show what TV shows her friends are currently watching. Click a link, and her TV would change to that channel. "This enables friends to exchange messages that include links to a particular network or TV show," the patent says. Very intriguing.

In Holland, I notice kids saying "Tot MSN" instead of "Tot Ziens" and the notion of sharing TV experiences isn't that crazy. Worrying for "linear" programme makers though.