Netflix CTO Elizabeth Stone Unveils Plans to Revive Star Search with Real-Time Voting
Netflix is set to revive the classic talent show Star Search, which helped launch the careers of iconic artists like Beyoncé and Britney Spears, with a modern twist. The show’s return in 2026 will feature real-time voting capabilities, allowing viewers to shape the competition as it unfolds. This move is part of the streaming giant’s push into live, interactive content, as announced by Chief Technology Officer Elizabeth Stone at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025.
According to Stone, this feature will enable viewers to “feel like they’re part of the story” and is just the beginning of the company’s efforts to create more interactive content. As Stone noted, “It’s just a very early starting example of the ways that we think content can be more interactive.”
Netflix’s Push into Live Programming
Netflix’s move into live programming is not new, having started with events like the 2024 Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match, which drew an impressive 65 million concurrent viewers. The company has also ventured into comedy specials, sports coverage, and award shows. Although live programming still represents a small share of Netflix’s overall content, Stone emphasized that such experiences will become “even more personalized, even more interactive, even more immersive” in the future.
Stone also highlighted the potential of cloud games to introduce new interaction patterns, with plans to launch “fun living room party games” through late 2025 and early next year. This includes titles like the classic word game Boggle. By leveraging its original intellectual property, Netflix can create immersive gaming experiences, such as games based on the popular show Stranger Things, which would allow fans to engage with the show’s world in new and exciting ways.
Interactive Storytelling and Short-Form Content
Netflix’s experiment with interactive storytelling is not new, having released the Black Mirror episode Bandersnatch in 2018, which allowed viewers to choose the story’s direction and determine its ending. The new interactive features, however, add a real-time component, enabling viewers to influence the outcome of a live experience. As Stone explained, “It’s a live experience where you’re influencing an outcome or having an experience versus absorbing or consuming content without an ability to play a part in that story.”
Beyond live programming and gaming, Netflix is also testing short-form, vertical video content designed for mobile devices. These experiments will roll out over the next few quarters and into 2026, with the goal of offering “more snackable” content for members. Stone emphasized that Netflix is not trying to directly compete with other short-video platforms, stating, “It is not intending to copy or chase exactly what TikTok or others are doing.”
Stone, who joined Netflix in 2018 and became CTO in 2023, believes that the company’s constant reinvention is key to its endurance. As she noted, “I would much rather work at a company that continues to evolve than one that stays static.” With its push into live, interactive content, Netflix is poised to revolutionize the way we consume entertainment and engage with our favorite shows and games.
Image Source: observer.com
