• by Aaron Baar , March 13, 2015

The future of entertainment may very well be televised … and lit with Internet-connected light bulbs. 

Cable network Syfy and Philips are touting off their third partnership using the latter company’s Hue connected lightbulbs to reflect scenes of the network’s original programming. 

“The Expanse,” a new futuristic, space-set series, is the third Syfy program to employ a unique “light track” that uses audio cues from the show to create ambient lighting effects, such as changing colors and brightness and dimming. The track is accessed through the channel’s mobile app, which syncs the show with the Internet-connected light bulbs for a more immersive experience, says Matthew Chiavelli, Syfy’s vice president of digital media and strategy. 

“What we’ve learned is the people who are syncing — and we have a solid number doing this through 12 Monkeys — is they want a little more,” Chiavelli tells Marketing Daily. “It’s still early days, and we’re taking feedback to see how much is too much and how much is enough.”

The brands are showing off the technology at SXSW this weekend, months in advance of the series’ premiere later this year. Philips and Syfy have partnered on these light track initiatives twice before (for the television movie “Sharknado 2,” and for the series “12 Monkeys”), but the outer-space setting of “The Expanse” offers even more opportunities to bring the program to life, Chiavelli says. 

“The footage we are seeing from ‘The Expanse’ has us incredibly excited about utilizing technology with Philips to the fullest,” he says. “Not only do we have outer space as a canvas, but the special effects and action will make this our most compelling Philips Hue experience to date.”

As with its 12 Monkeys tie-in, Syfy will promote the Philips Hue light tracks through on-air call-outs, as well as through online promotions, Chiavelli says.