Abstract: Internet-based viewing system for interactive synchronized shared viewing of video content comprises a website accessible to customers of the viewing system and providing mechanisms for the customers to select, author and schedule viewing sessions for transmission by the system, to invite other customers to view selected viewing sessions in synchronicity as a shared viewing group while allowing interactive communication between the customers within the viewing group. The system website provides mechanisms for providers of video content and customers to author viewing programs and makes them available to customers on the system website. Advertisements and/or interactive components may be included in the viewing programs as part of the authoring processes.