

(Apple does support split-screen apps and video overlays in iOS, but doesn’t allow two apps to play videos at the same time.) On iOS, for instance, Chrome doesn’t support browser extensions, and there’s no way for Scener to build its own video app that synchronizes with other video apps like Netflix and Hulu. It’s just unclear how that’s going to happen. Still, the startup does want to expand onto other platforms. Scener’s cofounders bristle somewhat at having their product described as a Chrome extension-”We’re calling it a platform,” Braidwood says-and insist that there’s a sizeable audience that will watch videos on their laptops. Strickland says that Scener could technically accommodate these kinds of uses, but for now the company would rather focus on videos that people can watch on-demand. There could be a lot of interest, for instance, in having fantasy football experts provide live commentary over an NFL Redzone feed, or getting a snarkier take on the Oscars or other awards shows.

That said, part of me is hoping Scener leans into live events a bit more. “Fundamental to the product right now is that it can happen at any time,” Braidwood says. The discussion grows over time as more people inject their thoughts into the stream.Ĭreators can still go live on Scener and ask their viewers to tune in at a specific time, but the idea is for everyone to have the same experience regardless of when they view a video. When you comment on a video, for instance, it’s pinned to the part of the video that’s currently playing. Instead, it wants to preserve the on-demand nature of the services it’s tapping into, which currently include Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. “There are a lot of signals in the industry that when a creator has a big audience, they can really monetize that in various ways, and we’re looking very closely at those things.”įor all the ways in which Scener is reminiscent of Twitch, it’s not trying to replicate that service’s live aspect. “We think that people come to platforms like Netflix to get away from advertising, so that’s not part of our strategy right now,” Braidwood says. Although creators can integrate a Patreon link for direct payment from fans, Braidwood says Scener has no plans to introduce advertising on the platform. Scener is currently paying those creators, though it’s unclear for how long this will continue or how exactly the site plans to make money–both for itself and for creators–in the long run. “The executive team at Real is very bullish on Scener.” Going liveĪt launch, Scener is offering more than 600 videos, both from unknown creators and people who’ve already achieved some internet fame on other platforms such as YouTube and Vine. “The plan is, we’re going to get through the launch and start to build momentum,” Braidwood says. If all goes to plan, RealNetworks hopes to spin off Scener into a separate company and raise outside capital. Braidwood, a consultant for early-stage tech companies, came on as CMO. Strickland pitched his superiors on the idea, and convinced them to invest several million dollars in the project (Scener won’t disclose an exact figure), while allowing Strickland to work on it full-time.
Scener netflix for mac tv#
“When you look at how big Twitch has gotten in the video gaming vertical, and if you look at events like Comic-Con and VidCon, there’s something really happening in the way that people consume and engage with content right now that doesn’t quite yet seem to have caught up with the way that we think about TV shows and movies that we love,” says Joe Braidwood, Scener’s cofounder and CMO.

The hope is that this will breed a new class of video creators with their own devoted followings.
Scener netflix for mac movie#
Scener allows people to record their reactions over an entire TV show or movie without violating copyright. While plenty of video commentary already exists on YouTube, copyright rules preclude creators from showing more than a few seconds of a movie or show at a time. Scener synchronizes the two videos and offers a discussion tab where viewers can chat among themselves. You might, for instance, watch a comics writer share his perspective on Sin City, or a former Vine star inject some wine-fueled humor into Santa Clarita Diet.

The actual movie or show plays directly from the source website, and Scener’s own video track appears in an overlay.
Scener netflix for mac download#
When you download Scener’s Chrome extension onto a Windows PC, Mac, or Chromebook, you can browse movies and shows for which people have created accompanying videos.
