SMS and TV in Malaysia

Do they finally get it? The New Straits Times (Malaysia) runs an article today about the phenomenon in Malaysia about chatrooms run by television stations. In this case, the SMS chatroom is displayed on national television, for everyone to see. As such, participants talk to each other via SMS and make their opinion count to Malaysia as well.

This is a great service showing the beginning of a different kind of television. Television frequently was one-directional. The viewer sits in front of the TV and has just to absorb what is shown. In a few cases, listeners or viewers could call and ask an "expert" a question. In a change of time, this was expanded to include faxes, or, nowadays e-mails or SMS.

However, the current offering is interactive. This means that viewers can discuss about a television program (think Akademi Fantasia, Malaysian Idol or American Idol) independent from what is given to them from the station and even discuss amongst themselves. A woman is quoted in the article that she even met people that she got to know on TV. This is a further sign for the dawning of the experience economy in Malaysia.