Academic Research

Watch parties have gained attention in both academic research and media coverage, especially for their role in education, community engagement. There are several academic papers and research studies exploring watch parties, especially in educational, social, and community-building contexts.

Watch parties are emerging as a dynamic tool in academic research across the USA and UK, fostering engagement, community, and new pedagogical insights.

In both the United States and the United Kingdom, watch parties - group viewings of media content- are gaining traction as a method for enhancing academic research and student engagement. Traditionally associated with entertainment, watch parties are now being reimagined in educational contexts to explore themes such as media literacy, cultural analysis, and social behaviour. They also serve as a bridge between academic and public spheres. In both countries, researchers are partnering with community organisations and cultural venues to host public watch parties that double as data collection opportunities and outreach events.

Academic research is beginning to explore how watch parties contribute to the economic vitality of local venues, particularly in hospitality and cultural sectors.

Studies in both the UK and US suggest that community-driven entertainment formats like watch parties can significantly boost venue revenue, footfall, and employment. For example, the National Independent Venue Association’s 2025 report highlights how live entertainment- including themed watch parties - generated over $153 billion in total economic output across the US, supporting nearly 908,000 jobs. In the UK, cultural sector reviews show that events hosted by bars, cinemas, and community spaces often lead to increased local spending and repeat visitsGOV.UK+1. Emerging research also points to watch parties as catalysts for investment in venue infrastructure, staff retention, and brand partnerships, especially when tied to popular media like reality TV or sports. As universities and policy groups deepen their analysis, watch parties are gaining recognition not just as social events, but as strategic economic drivers. https://www.ainvest.com/news/rise-watch-parties-community-driven-entertainment-reviving-hospitality-creating-investment-opportunities-2507/

Educational Use in Online Learning

• University of Manchester implemented watch parties with live chatboxes to enhance student engagement and foster a sense of belonging in digital classrooms. These sessions helped combat isolation and improved learning outcomes

  🔗 Times Higher Education – Watch parties in online learning

• University of Glasgow explored “watch party lectures” as a method to deliver asynchronous material synchronously. Students benefited from real-time interaction and community building, although asynchronous viewers missed out on the live engagement Enlighten: Publications.

Faculty Development and Diversity

• Texas A&M University used faculty watch parties to facilitate discussions around diversity and inclusivity. These sessions proved effective in promoting dialogue and reflection among educators ASEE PEER.

User Research and Design Collaboration

• A case study from Lookback highlighted how watch parties were used to scale research impact. By inviting stakeholders to observe live user research sessions, teams fostered real-time discussion and deeper engagement with findings blog.lookback.com.

Sports Fandom and Community Building

• A presentation at Belmont University’s Humanities Symposium analysed how Green Bay Packers fans use watch parties to create community outside traditional venues like stadiums. It emphasised the role of communication and shared experience in fan culture repository.belmont.edu.

If you're exploring watch parties for academic or applied research, these examples show their versatility - from pedagogy and faculty development to media strategy and civic engagement.

Are you researching watch parties?

If you're a student, academic, or researcher exploring watch parties as part of a thesis, dissertation, or applied project- whether in media studies, education, sociology, or digital engagement- we’d love to hear from you.

📩 Reach out to us at hello@watchparties.co.uk to share your work, collaborate, or learn how our platform and insights can support your research.