Netflix introduced a new live content voting feature, debuting January 20 with the livestreamed talent show “Star Search.”
Subscribers can vote via multiple-choice or a five-star rating system using a TV remote or the Netflix app. This feature supports real-time global voting, with a limited voting window for live viewers only. Votes cast after this period will not be counted.
Live voting trials began in August 2025 with “Dinner Time Live with David Chang.” Elizabeth Stone, Netflix CTO, confirmed the broader launch at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. Stone stated, “If you’re sitting at home watching ‘Star Search’ on your TV, you’ll be able to either on the TV or your mobile phone actually put in a vote that advances or doesn’t advance some of the contestants on the show.”
Stone further elaborated, “So it’s just a very early starting example of the ways that we think content can be more interactive over time, across devices, between TV and mobile, where a member who subscribes to Netflix can actually feel like they’re part of the story, influence the storyline, and feel immersed in that.”
Netflix has increased its focus on live content, including programs such as “Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney” and “Dinner Time Live with David Chang,” in addition to sports broadcasts like the NFL Christmas special and WWE shows. In October, Netflix introduced interactive games for smart TVs, and the new live voting capability integrates these interactive and live content strategies.
