​Second screen apps for TV series are nothing new, but ABC’s upcoming “Rising Star” takes the idea to a whole new level, making the app, in many ways, the first point of contact for fans instead of a second thought.

The singing competition series debuts June 22, and ABC is launching the show’s app this week, ahead of what the network expects to be a very social show. First of all, the judges aren’t really the judges - Brad Paisley, Kesha and Ludacris are secondary to the show’s voting fans, who truly decide whether a contestant moves on in the competition with the help of the show’s app:

The show’s artists and performers will audition on a stage with a giant LED screen that will project the app’s results for each singer. The screen will stay put (negative reviews) or raise up (signaling positive results). If a singer receives 70 percent of the votes, the wall raises all the way up and the singer can see their live audience, but if not enough people vote yes, that person is out of the competition. In this way, the app is not secondary to the show’s main content, it’s a vital part of it.

“American Idol” has allowed people to vote online and via apps, but this marks the first time the app could see just as much activity as the on-air show, creating a proactive experience for fans instead of a secondary conversation point. ABC also hopes that “Rising Star” will bring back live event viewing in a world of DVRs and delayed viewing.

Read more at Fast Company.

Brief Take: This marks the first time the app could have more usage than the show has ratings, forcing fans to take part in the app in order to make sense out of the show, instead of the other way around.

[Image courtesy of ABC]

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