There is provided a system having a memory and a processor to establish a viewing group having a plurality of users, provide an ordered list of a plurality of media contents, make a first media content in the ordered list of the plurality of media contents available for viewing by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group, track a viewing progress of the first media content by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group, and make a second media content in the ordered list of the plurality of media contents available for viewing by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group based on one or more rules related to the viewing progress of the first media content by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group.
BACKGROUND(1) Conventionally, terrestrial television networks and cable television networks broadcast television shows as part of each network's nightly or weekly programming. Historically, watching a television show required a user to view the television show at the broadcast time, or view a re-run of the show at a later time. Even then, some were still not able to watch re-runs due to their jobs or other commitments that conflicted with the broadcast time. Thereafter, devices such as VCRs and digital recorders allowed viewers to time-shift their viewing experience by making a personal recording of a television show and watching it at a convenient time.(2) Watching television shows and discussing the shows have provided many people with social connections, and provided ways to bond with others. Following and discussing a film franchise, character arcs, plot events or a favorite actor's career are common conversation topics. Serial novels and books by prolific authors have also provided similar conversation starters, such as discussing what happened to certain characters in a more recent novel from a certain author.SUMMARY(3) The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for providing a virtual shared media experience, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.
1. A system comprising: a non-transitory memory storing an executable code; and a hardware processor executing the executable code to: establish a viewing group having a plurality of users; provide an ordered list of a plurality of media contents; make a first media content in the ordered list of the plurality of media contents available for viewing by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group; make a second media content in the ordered list of the plurality of media contents unavailable for viewing by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group; stream the first media content for a first viewing by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group upon a request by each respective one of the plurality of users after making the first media content available; track a progress of the first viewing of the streamed first media content by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group; make the second media content in the ordered list of the plurality of media contents available for viewing by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group, based on the tracking and in response to complying with one or more rules related to the progress of the first viewing of the streamed first media content by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group; and stream the second media content for a second viewing by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group upon another request by each respective one of the plurality of users after making the second media content available based on the tracking the progress of the first viewing; wherein the one or more rules include a maximum allowed gap between the first media content and the second media content, and wherein the one or more rules are selected by a first user of the plurality of users and agreed upon by the plurality of users.
11. A method for use with a system including a hardware processor and a non-transitory memory, the method comprising: establishing, using the hardware processor, a viewing group having a plurality of users; providing, using the hardware processor, an ordered list of a plurality of media contents; making, using the hardware processor, a first media content in the ordered list of the plurality of media contents available for viewing by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group; making, using the hardware processor, a second media content in the ordered list of the plurality of media contents unavailable for viewing by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group; streaming, using the hardware processor, the first media content for a first viewing by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group upon a request by each respective one of the plurality of users after making the first media content available; tracking, using the hardware processor, a progress of the first viewing of the streamed first media content by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group; making, using the hardware processor, the second media content in the ordered list of the plurality of media contents available for viewing by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group, based on the tracking and in response to complying with one or more rules related to the progress of the first viewing of the streamed first media content by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group; and streaming, using the hardware processor, the second media content for a second viewing by each of the plurality of users in the viewing group upon another request by each respective one of the plurality of users after making the second media content available based on the tracking the progress of the first viewing; wherein the one or more rules include a maximum allowed gap between the first media content and the second media content, and wherein the one or more rules are selected by a first user of the plurality of users and agreed upon by the plurality of users.