Popular lip syncing platform Musical.ly may be developing a copycat version of HQ Trivia — the buzzy livestreaming quiz show app launched late last year by Vine co-founders Rus Yusupov and Colin Kroll — targeting its avid tween user base.
Gizmodo obtained a planning document from Bytedance — the Chinese internet giant that acquired Musical.ly for a reported $800 million in November — indicating that an initiative code-named Project F is allegedly in the works. In development under Musical.ly’s new management, Project F would consist of live, twice-daily quiz competitions distributed in vertical video format with an affable host and the ability for participants to win real money or prizes — which is the conceit of HQ Trivia to the letter. The product could launch as soon as next week — though Gizmodo notes that it might also turn out to be a standalone venture that does not live within Musical.ly.
While this isn’t the first time that a competitor has attempted to capitalize on HQ Trivia’s buzz, Musical.ly may be looking to add differentiating features to the mix, including team-based play and an opportunity to take home prize money even when players don’t win.
Subscribe to get the latest creator news
The planning document states that Musical.ly currently counts 60 million monthly active users, but is seeking ways to become more of a daily destination. HQ Trivia, which hosts quizzes twice per day, garners as many as 1 million viewers per session, Gizmodo reports.
