subject: Why Do Television Stations Include Sms Polling? [print this page] SMS polling especially for live news programming on television is the latest technology station that is being used for engaging and attracting viewers. News directors and program directors have discovered that if instantaneous polling results are posted, they prove to be not only informative, but also exciting.
There are many reasons why television stations are taking help of SMS Contests for solidifying ratings and grabbing the audience back:
Texting is cool
Majority of the people prefer communicating with the help of text messages. In fact, people use mobile phones for texting rather than talking. If people are asked as to how they want to receive messages, they prefer texting over email and phone calls.
Viewers can become a vital part of the program
Not only do viewers watch with SMS Polling, they also become a vital part of program. If text polling is included in programming, viewers get an opportunity of becoming an important part and also see their votes being counted. They have a psychological attraction towards being participants of large communities. This also helps in binding the audience.
Viewers are kept glued to their television sets
With real time results, the normal newscast is filled with suspense. When the viewers are aware that anchors are having the results, a new level of suspense and interest is developed in the program. Results are automatically updated every few seconds and thus, there is tabulation of polling results in real time. This system is much better than the typical SMS Voting that is seen on reality shows. With these shows, viewers are forced for waiting till the next show for seeing the results of the previous show. In case of newscast, the culture is instant and instant results are displayed.
Sponsors just love it
Sponsors are attracted by text polling as it is all about money and number. Text polling is loved by sponsors and business advertisers because they get their name on the scroll or sidebar of the text polling results. During a large part of newscast, their names are included on the response text. This text is sent automatically to the viewers for acknowledging the receipt of their vote and text.
Saves costs
A polling component can be set up in a newscast as it is not very costly. No software or hardware is required for buying it. It can be managed easily online. The programming and technology is already set up and one just needs to tap into it. There is no need of spending thousands of dollars for implementing it. In a few hundred dollars, these stations can be started immediately.
Topics are limitless
Any topic can be involved at any time in text polling. It is definitely an ideal way of enabling the people for participating in the most popular and the hottest topics of the day. Whether it is socialites in trouble or political scandals, everything is involved. They can also include a pending weather storm, wherein people are asked if they feel prepared to cope up with it. One can choose from thousands of limitless topics and possibilities for asking the viewers.
