Netflix is adding real-time engagement to its live content. The company announced the official launch of a new feature that allows viewers to vote directly during the broadcast. This feature will debut on the live audition program Star Search, which premieres on January 20th.
Subscribers can choose multiple-choice options while watching the show or rate the performers' performances on a five-star scale. Voting can be done via the TV remote or the Netflix mobile app. Netflix explains that this feature works globally and the results are tallied in real time.
Voting is time-limited. Once the time limit has passed, additional votes will no longer be counted. This means that you cannot vote if you're watching a recording or on a delayed broadcast. The live viewing experience itself is designed to be a more important element.
Netflix has been testing live voting features since August 2025 on Dinner Time Live with David Chang. Chef Chang's show served as a testing ground for interactivity. At the TechCrunch Disrupt event that same year, CTO Elizabeth Stone announced the full-scale expansion of the feature.
Stone explained that even if viewers watch the show on TV, they can simultaneously vote via mobile, and that this interaction has a real impact on whether a contestant advances. He went on to say that the goal is to create a more immersive experience where Netflix subscribers become part of the story, influence its narrative, and feel more connected.
Netflix has recently been actively expanding its live content offerings. It has introduced entertainment programs like Everybody's Live with John Mulaney, as well as NFL Christmas broadcasts and WWE shows. In October, it also launched interactive games for smart TVs. This live voting feature is seen as a strategic move by Netflix to integrate live broadcasting with interactive experiences.
