I have made no secret of my love for Disney’s Second Screen app technology. It is a very cool and unique way of viewing extra features of your Disney Blu-rays in a home environment. Emphasis on the word HOME. Disney is now taking their second screen technology and ENCOURAGING people to bring it to the theaters on their upcoming limited re-release of The Little Mermaid.
This is admittedly just an experiment and will only be in a small number of theaters, but really – their commercials are promoting this crap, why wouldn’t any kid just download their apps and show up at ANY theater to use it? Yes it requires special screening technology to make sure everything syncs properly but still. This is one of the worst ideas that I’ve ever heard of. So ADD addled kids can use their iPads in the THEATER!
Excuse me if I’m wrong, but aren’t theaters actively trying to get people to turn off their electronic devices? Now Disney comes along and is encouraging people to bring their iPads so they can watch The Little Mermaid?
This has to be one of the stupidest ideas EVER.
I’ve attended demos of second screen at theaters and it is a wretched experience. Parents should be trying to teach their kids how to unplug for 90 minutes, not have companies like Disney try and encourage these kids to be even more annoying than they already are – in a THEATER. Come on, get your act together Disney. You know I love you but this is absolutely ridiculous!
I really hope this fails, but I have a sad feeling that it’ll be a “success” and Disney will do it more and more and moronic parents who don’t know how to control their kids will be all for this. It is kind of like Amy Miles, CEO of Regal Theaters suggesting that hey, “It’d be a great idea” to have “cell phone” zones in theaters. These people really are trying to drive people away from the theater.
The Little Mermaid: Second Screen Live will be shown in select theaters starting September 20th. Its accompanying app, Second Screen Live: The Little Mermaid is a free download for the iPad and is available on the App Store. [Direct Link]