This deal between Hotels.com, Comcast and Liquidus "is the first of its kind to leverage telescoping technology
that enables consumers to view a traditional television commercial and
then click their remote to take them directly into rich on-demand content to learn more about travel destination deals" as reported by Yahoo! Finance.
"Hotel Deals on Demand" is a video-on-demand advertising program distributed through the Comcast network and produced by Liquidus' video on demand (VOD) technology. The "Hotel Deals on Demand" program was trialed for six months over the Spring and Summer with great success. Consumer engagement indicated strong with an average of 2.8 minutes per movie of Hotel Deals on Demand.
Todd Holmes, CEO of Liquidus said:
"When customers can relax in front of their TV and literally tour a prospective hotel property on a large screen, rather than either flipping through tour books or viewing photo stills online, consumer engagement and interest is increased dramatically. Video On Demand presents an incredibly effective way to merchandise properties and is a powerful new opportunity for travel marketing."
Kevin Smith, Group Vice President, Integrated Media Sales at Comcast Spotlight said:
"The hospitality industry is poised to benefit handsomely thanks to the new video capabilities available through on demand television. Savvy advertisers like Hotels.com are seeing the opportunity that new interactive TV capabilities offer. They're launching programs that deliver sales today, while looking forward to the interactive capabilities they can offer consumers in the near future to further interact with their brands, such as requesting information or transacting through the TV with a click of the remote."
How it Works
The telescoping technology is embedded into traditional commercials and allows viewers to "click through" using their television remote to access more information. Upon activation consumers "telescope" from the traditional 30-second commercials directly into the Hotel Deals On Demand content. Hotel Deals On Demand will also be promoted through iGuide advertisements that scroll on the bottom of the Comcast programming guide. These ads also telescope directly into the Hotel Deals On Demand program.
Liquidus' proprietary on demand technology produces promotional video from existing still images and data. Advertisers do not need to invest in costly video production, and as a result, they can quickly and inexpensively offer video for entire property lines on a turn-key basis. Working with Comcast and other cable operators, advertisers can easily pick and choose the markets they want to target.
Travel marketing on a ten foot experience
This development is certainly encouraging for the travel industry which has been said to be too much focused on price as a key differentiator and too less focus on value enhancements and the travel experience. "The key challenge, experts said, is to get consumers focused less on rock-bottom prices and more on value" as correctly described by HotelMarketing.
The innovation by Hotels.com (and their partners) to research and deploy a VOD strategy exactly reacts on the abovementioned quote and it will be definately interesting to see what other OTA's will do to react to this innovative strategy.
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Verizon Communications launched a new NFL RedZone iPad app for their FiOS TV customers. The iPad app lets you stream RedZone content to the iPad in your home,
assuming you are a FiOS TV customer that subscribes to the RedZone
channel. Further, ConnectedPlanetOnline reports that the app actually was relaunched last month whilst its debut was earlier in the year.
It was pulled from the app store for unknown reasons and has now made a triumphant return, a screenshot of the app can be seen below.
TFTS on the abilities of the app:
ConnectedPlanetOnline further elaborates on the niche of this app:
This one is purely for the fantasy football freaks among us. If you are wondering why anyone would need to watch RedZone on an iPad while at home—and probably watching football on TV at the same time—than you are not a member of the target audience for this app. Perhaps that’s why Verizon didn’t bring out the trumpets for its launch. Such specialized iPad TV apps show how useful the tablet really can be as a TV accompaniment, though the big fanfare should be saved for the more broadly appealing iPad TV apps.
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Get Glue has just closed a 6M round of funding led by TimeWarner Investments, with participation from investors RRE Ventures and Union Square Ventures.
2010 seems to have been quite a successful year for GetGlue, seeing over a 20x increase in key metrics since January, key partnerships signed with over two dozen major entertainment brands, and establishment of itself as the leader in the emerging social entertainment space. This funding is a testament to both GetGlue’s accelerating growth and the importance of the social entertainment space at large.
GetGlue is a leading social entertainment network where fans use GetGlue to check-in while consuming entertainment to connect with friends, get personalized recommendations, and earn exclusive rewards from over 25 media companies... and it's available at GetGlue.com and via a variety of GetGlue apps. The GetGlue mobile app enables users to check-in to tv shows, movies, music and books, plus see what their friends are consuming in real-time. On GetGlue.com users can quickly build up their taste profile, get fresh suggestions every week, browse top lists and find taste neighbors.
To date, GetGlue has partnered with over 25 top entertainment companiesincluding 20th Century Fox, AMC, ABC Family, Disney Theatrical, Discovery, ESPN, FOX, Food Network, Hachette, HBO, HGTV, MTV, MSNBC, Showtime, Penguin, PBS, Random House, Simon and Schuster, Syfy, Sony Pictures, Travel Channel, USA Network, Universal Pictures, and Warner Bros. theatrical. Existing partners are expanding the promotions and rewards offered to GetGlue fans. A set of exciting new partnerships are in the pipeline and expected to be announced shortly.
GetGlue says the proceeds of this financing will help implement an exciting, new product roadmap in 2011, including continuous improvements to the core functionality, scaling the GetGlue service across new devices and platforms, new partnerships and expanded relationships with existing partners, and the introduction and expansion of the GetGlue Social Entertainment Platform which consists of a GetGlue API and a set of widgets for websites, Facebook, iPhones, and iPads. The Platform enables third parties to easily incorporate GetGlue check-ins, rewards, recommendations, and other aspects of the GetGlue network directly into their applications.
The platform is already being used by a dozen top entertainment partners — including 20th Century Fox, USA, Showtime, and Sony — to bring social entertainment functionality to their websites, Facebook pages, and mobile applications. In addition, several major partners are working on integrating the platform into their iPhone and iPad applications. There are also plans to integrate directly into television sets and set-top boxes.
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During the keynote interview at the UBS Global Media and
Communications Conference, CBS' CEO Les Moonves said that "if Google wants access to the broadcast networks’ top prime-time
shows for its fledgling Google TV product, they are going to have
to cough up some cash."
Moonves further said:
“Google TV is very interesting. I’m not sure what it is. I’m not sure what it will do to our business. I know Mr. Schmidt thinks we have our heads in the sand, but I beg to differ.”
Regarding to the abovementioned mentioned quotes, caution is in place at CBS,the central issue is control, control over the distribution method, and control over the monetization of CBS' content. He made clear though, no matter if it concerned Google TV, Hulu or someone else, it will have to pay to license CBS' shows.
Can CBS demand this?
According to Moonves they can. Why? Because Content is King. Moonves said on the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference:
"People want our content. We are going to take our time making the right decision. Caution is a not a bad thing here"
TheStreet further elaborates:
Moonves said he is keeping an eye on the trends in the television sector. While he has been in negotiations with possible partners, he wants to take his time and evaluate his options.
By having desirable content, Moonves believes the company will also appear more attractive to advertisers.
With its advertising accounting for about 65% of the company's total revenue, Moonves expects the recovering ad market to bolster its end of 2010 and 2011 results.
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Expanding on its offerings of real-time engagement tools such as the Talk Bubble and the interactive iPad app Bravo Now, Bravo Media has cut a deal with Twitter to launch @BravoTV, a real-time social media experience and interactive site where fans can engage with each other 24/7 about their favorite Bravo shows and Bravolebrities. Additionally, TelevisionWithoutPity.com will launch Talk Without Pity, a social media dashboard for the TV junkie, where users can find, consume, and participate in real-time virtual watercooler buzz surrounding their favorite programs and performers. The announcement was made by Lisa Hsia, Senior Vice President of Bravo Digital Media.
"Bravo's audience is highly engaged, so being at the forefront of the digital universe is important for us, as that's where our audience consumes their media. We wanted to create a place where fans can engage 24/7 about our brand - anywhere, everywhere, and always" said Hsia. "By creating tools that instigate them into action on certain topics, we'll learn even more about what our audience likes and dislikes, which will in turn help us expand our digital offerings."
Building off the success of the networks other social media initiatives, @BravoTV is a social media experience that gives fans an outlet to engage in 24/7 watercooler conversation whenever they want. The three-part tool will instigate fans into action and help them to provoke and engage each other with features like the "Just Saying" a conversation starter where fans can give their opinion and feedback on various topics that relate to their favorite shows; and "Tweet Battles," where fans can challenge each other to a one-on-one debate about a hot topic while spectators comment on the action and show their support for one of the battlers. The site's "Tweet Tracker" will measure the buzz while tracking the Twitter activity and conversation around a certain show or Bravolebrity, while vividly displaying the level of interest and conversation around Bravo-related topics at any given time. Some of the best Tweets from the audience and various Bravolebrities will appear on-air, creating and interactive TV experience for fans. Additionally, @BravoTV gives advertisers an opportunity to connect with fans, as well as opportunities for unique and innovative online integrations, giving them the chance to drive engagement around their brands through the real-time conversations of Bravo fans.
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The explosion of social media combined with the mobile movement created an opportunity to connect these trends beyond status and location updates. Interactive agency United Future, the digital arm of Wongdoody, today announced a new service that combines the best of both worlds, creating "Social TV" with an online service called ChatmeTV. ChatmeTV is a Socializing Network that enables users to gather in virtual groups to chat about television entertainment as they are watching a program in real time, whether it is scripted, reality, sports or news programming.
ChatmeTV was a finalist in the Best Mobile Social Network category and for the 2010 Industry Star Award at this week's Mobile Excellence Awards, produced by Little Monster Media, which profile the latest in mobile entertainment, including media, marketing and technology.
ChatmeTV is instantaneous, interactive conversation, not posting comments to a blog or bulletin board. Viewers can visit www.chatmetv.com on their computer, iPhone or iPad, select the show they want to discuss, enter a screen name and join the conversation. They may select from any currently broadcasting television programming, regardless of network or provider, or search for a favorite program.
"More and more viewers are using second and third screens while in front of the TV. ChatmeTV bridges the gap. Now, those viewers can connect the two while engaging with their friends and other fans," said Scott Holmes, managing partner, United Future.
As television broadcasters vie for audiences, ChatmeTV helps maximize ratings and, ultimately, ad dollars. ChatmeTV provides a solution for the industry to create a compelling way to engage viewers with TV programming, keeping audiences from migrating to Internet-only entertainment sources.
"This is a win for broadcasters to re-engage audiences that they have lost to the Web. It also creates new revenue streams through contextual advertising, sponsorships and promotions," Holmes continued.
With the increasing audience fragmentation facing advertisers today, ChatmeTV makes it easy to target ad buys and assess their effectiveness through its keyword recognition engine. As fans type away in chat rooms, a deep back-end of pre-programmed keywords is triggered, dynamically displaying links to advertiser content related to the actual fan conversation, on any topic, whether it be about sporting goods, home improvement or personal care items.
No registration is required for consumers to participate. Users can select from a list of featured current local programming associated with their zip code, or use the search function to find a specific show. They select a show, and begin chatting. If they choose, users can let other friends know they are using ChatmeTV through other social networking sites by using the "Share" function.
Akoo International Inc., a media and technology innovator, today announced that it has been awarded a patent for its interactive media and marketing platform by the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) of the People's Republic of China. The platform enables mobile device users to make on-demand content requests and interact with social television services, digital out-of-home or digital place-based media networks, and video advertising networks through a mobile app, a web app, or SMS text messaging. Akoo also announced that the Company intends to launch its social television network in China and that it is currently evaluating local strategic business partners.
"With our expansion into China, Akoo's interactive platform has the ability to connect more than 800 million Chinese mobile device users with advanced social television services, digital screen networks, in-store solutions, and cinema advertising in one of the most dynamic advertising marketplaces in the world," said Niko Drakoulis, Akoo International's Founding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Akoo International's interactive platform currently powers its Akoo social television network in 62 major markets across the United States, where it reaches an audience of more than 90 million consumers each month in the nation's premium shopping malls and universities.
Akoo launched its U.S. network in 2009 and received the first of its multiple U.S. patents in January 2010. In October 2010, the Company also named former Discovery Networks President William "Billy" Campbell as its President. Campbell oversees Akoo's media networks, including operations, programming, consumer marketing, business development, and advertising sales.
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Juniper Research has signalled an unprecedented interest in the mobile application space by key brands and agencies, following the dramatic increase in mobile application usage in key markets and the growing penetration of smartphones with location aware and augmented reality (AR) capabilities.
Global advertising expenditure on mobile delivery channels is expected to exceed €8.5 billion annually by 2015 – up from €2 billion this year – as campaigns seek to capitalise on the personalised, targeted advertising and high levels of user engagement that mobile applications have to offer.
This can only be great news for not only the future of Connected TV apps, but also for Mobile and Tablet TV-related apps... Twitter's Robin Sloan recently and very interestingly hinted that the majority the 90m million tweets per day are TV related (he wouldn't say exactly how many), with Twitter peak times happening during real-time broadcast TV prime time.
TV-related activities are very much being done online, according to Neilson: being accessed via PC, Mobile and Tablets - and more and more via Apps.
| Read background info about a show’s cast member | 39% |
| Viewed a show’s previews | 38% |
| Read background info about the show or the show’s characters | 37% |
| Viewed a behind-the-scenes video clip | 27% |
| Read or viewed a show’s cast member interview | 26% |
| Viewed a show’s bloopers | 22% |
| Viewed a show’s deleted scenes | 20% |
| Source: Nielsen | |
The Social Network Water Cooler Effect: Three Reasons Why Facebook and Twitter Might Save Television
Remember when the Internet was supposed to kill off television? That hasn’t been the case lately, judging by the record television ratings for big-ticket events… Many television executives are crediting the Internet, in part, for the revival.
Blogs and social Web sites like Facebook and Twitter enable an online water-cooler conversation, encouraging people to split their time between the computer screen and the big-screen TV… If viewers cannot be in the same room, the next best thing is a chat room.
Juniper’s new Mobile Advertising Strategies report found that, in the wake of the surge in app downloads engendered by Apple’s App Store and other storefront launches, brands are seeking either to offer dynamic advertising in-app, or else – as with Barclaycard and Volkswagen – to create their own apps with the aim of increasing brand exposure and engagement.
Meanwhile, advertisers such as Starbucks and L’Oreal are making greater use of location-based campaigns, in which they geo-fence selected zones and to push messages to customers that enter those designated areas.
RapidTV News reports that the BBC offers an IPTV backchannel to the UK subscription-free satellite TV service Freesat. "The move could assume a lot of significance in the medium term as the
OTT YouView service is launched sometime in 2011."
Christina Scott, BBC's general manager of IPTV said “IPTV is really bringing the web to TV…the possibilities are endless and there is lots of room for innovation.”
A Freesat spokesperson told RapidTV News:
“The extra red button content from the BBC is available to all Freesat Humax and Sony connected receivers. This is a great addition to Freesat and allows viewers to watch exclusive Strictly Come Dancing content such as backstage interviews and previous programme content, and will also be available for other viewing events in time. All Humax and Sony Freesat customers need to do to get started is to connect their HD receivers to their home broadband.”
Betfair TV's investment and leadership in (internet) connected TV (appmarket.tv covered their release here) was recognised at the eGaming Review Awards where the Betfair TV team proudly accepted the award for Innovation of the Year.
In a fast moving industry, Betfair's leadership in designing, developing and launching successful connected TV Apps was one of a hat-trick of awards Betfair received during the evening.
"This award recognises the potential of internet connected TV for the gaming industry and we are delighted to be acknowledged as leading the way in terms of innovation and investment," says Simon Miller, Head of Betfair TV.
The Betfair connected TV development team is currently planning a multisport application covering the vast majority of live sport broadcast on TV and continues to build its relationships with the world's largest TV manufacturers and operators.
Axel Technologies’ new Fuugo TV software for mobile and portable devices is a top three contender in the Mobile Category. Ease of use, content discovery and a unique user experience define innovation in TV 3.0.
Axel Technologies, a pioneer in mobile television and video technologies, announced today that it’s new Fuugo™ mobile and portable TV software product is a top three finisher in the Mobile TV category and will be recognized at the 2010 TV Innovations Award ceremony in Los Angeles, California.
“Most online or mobile video consumers face a bewildering array of video content choices and are forced to learn multiple viewing applications whenever they try to watch something. Fuugo is different. A single intuitive user interface aggregates content from broadcast, Internet and mobile TV, making intelligent presentation of preferred content so viewing is a pleasure not a chore,” stated Petri Kalske, CEO of Axel Technologies. “We are delighted that the user-centric design and our usability focus has been acknowledged by a panel of esteemed judges from the television industry.”
Fuugo is the next generation TV application for mobile and handheld devices redefining TV by integrating broadcast TV, mobile TV, Internet TV and video with social media into one single application. Fuugo also utilizes social media as a communications and content discovery tool that allows viewers to simultaneous search, share and participate. Fuugo invents a whole new interactive TV and video experience, never before seen on mobile devices.
Fuugo’s user-centric design simplifies the discovery and presentation of entertainment choices from all available TV and video sources. The product is designed to support the major international mobile and over-the-air broadcast TV standards from North America, Europe and Latin America.
The final results of the TV Innovations Awards will be announced at a gala reception to be held immediately following the first day of the “TV 3.0 – Innovations in TV and Content Delivery” Conference. The gala will take place at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles on December 7th, 2010.
The unique Fuugo viewing experience can be seen at http://fuugo.tv. Consumer device OEMs should contact Axel Technologies for Fuugo licensing. http://axel.fi
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