Netflix’s Star Search will let you vote to decide who wins | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAICESHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Netflix’s Star Search will let you vote to decide who winsComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...EntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentStreamingCloseStreamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All StreamingMusicCloseMusicPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MusicNetflix’s Star Search will let you vote to decide who winsThe streamer is rolling out real-time voting, but you won’t be able to do it from a browser.The streamer is rolling out real-time voting, but you won’t be able to do it from a browser.by Charles Pulliam-MooreCloseCharles Pulliam-MooreFilm & TV ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Charles Pulliam-MooreJan 20, 2026, 5:19 PM UTCLinkShareGiftIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.Part OfNFL, celebrity boxing, and hot dogs: Netflix’s push into live TVsee all updates Charles Pulliam-MooreCloseCharles Pulliam-MoorePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Charles Pulliam-Moore is a reporter focusing on film, TV, and pop culture. Before The Verge, he wrote about comic books, labor, race, and more at io9 and Gizmodo for almost five years.Though Netflix’s upcoming Star Search reboot will feature a panel of celebrity judges, viewers are going to have a hand in choosing which contestants win the competition.Ahead of Star Search’s premiere tonight, Netflix has announced that it is launching a new real-time voting functionality that will give you the ability to tell the streamer which performer you want to see succeed. Rather than having to send in a text message or visit a special website as was the case with American Idol, Star Search’s voting can be done within the Netflix app while the show is airing live on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 9PM ET / 6PM PT.In addition to the app, it will be possible to vote via smart TVs and streaming devices like Apple TV, Roku, and Fire TV. But in its post about the feature, Netflix stressed that voting will not be available if you’re watching via a browser, and voting will be limited to a specific time window while Star Search is streaming live.While Star Search is airing, viewers will be prompted to give each performance a rating of 1–5 stars, with each episode’s results being tallied and shared by the end of the broadcast. Each Netflix profile will be limited to one vote per performance, and once a vote has been submitted, it can’t be changed.Everything about the feature makes it sound like Netflix is angling for Star Search to be the kind of event that keeps the audience engaged enough to keep their eyes on the screen. That would be a welcome change of pace in this era of casual viewing, but Star Search’s success is going to hinge on how good the show’s performances are.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Charles Pulliam-MooreCloseCharles Pulliam-MooreFilm & TV ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Charles Pulliam-MooreEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentMusicCloseMusicPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MusicNetflixCloseNetflixPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NetflixStreamingCloseStreamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All StreamingTV ShowsCloseTV ShowsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TV ShowsMore in: NFL, celebrity boxing, and hot dogs: Netflix’s push into live TVNetflix snags Elle Duncan from ESPN to host live eventsEmma RothDec 18, 2025Netflix signs a three-year deal to stream MLB live events and gamesRichard LawlerNov 19, 2025Netflix is bringing back Star Search as a live showAndrew WebsterMay 14, 2025Most PopularMost PopularSony’s TV business is being taken over by TCLHow much can a city take?Bungie’s Marathon shooter launches on March 5thA second US Sphere could come to MarylandNetflix revises Warner Bros. bid to an all-cash offerThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Netflix’s Star Search is implementing a real-time voting system, allowing viewers to directly influence the outcome of the competition through an in-app feature. This initiative represents a strategic move by the streaming giant to foster increased engagement with its live programming, particularly during the show’s Tuesday and Wednesday broadcasts at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT. The system functions by prompting viewers to rate each performance using a 1-5 star scale, with individual Netflix profiles limited to one vote per performance. Once submitted, these votes are tallied and subsequently shared at the end of the broadcast episode. This approach is designed to elevate the viewing experience, shifting away from passive consumption and encouraging active participation. The key operational mechanics include the ability to vote directly within the Netflix application across various platforms – including smart TVs and streaming devices – while excluding browser-based voting. This restriction reinforces the emphasis on creating a contained and immediate interaction. Ultimately, the success of this voting system hinges on the quality and appeal of the performances themselves, representing a gamble by Netflix to transform Star Search into a consistently engaging event. The implementation underscores a broader trend in live television, where platforms seek innovative methods to maintain audience attention in an era of increasingly diluted viewing habits.