FreedTV to Trial Social TV Software with Comcast in Cable Play

Posted by Paul Johnson in Breaking News on September 22, 2010  |  0 Comments More from this author  |    |  Follow Paul Johnson on: LinkedIn | Twitter |

Television and social media technology company FreedTV today announced that their ETV social television application has successfully completed Comcast Media Center’s lab assessment program and is approved for operator field trials. The Comcast Media Center  is a centralized service that supports the development, launch and operation of interactive applications using enhanced TV (ETV) and Tru2way® open cable architectures.

The FreedTV My TV Life interactive television application enables real-time multi-platform connectivity to mainstream television set-top boxes (STBs). In association with its Facebook and iPhone applications, the FreedTV Social Television Engine combines the compelling content of broadcast and cable television with the peer-to-peer communication of social networking to create a new connected interactive television experience.

“By integrating with the Comcast Media Center AxIS platform, we are able to significantly expand the reach of our service and provide a compelling single screen experience for our users,” said Brent Dix, FreedTV President. “AxIS has been a leader in the interactive television space and we are pleased to be among the first applications approved for operator field trials.”

“As cable operators look for ways to enhance the viewing experience for their customers, providing compelling and exciting new interactive applications is high on their list,” said Sanjay Patel, Comcast Media Center Product Director. “FreedTV was able to provide a connected multi-platform social TV experience that runs in real-time on existing networks including entry-level digital cable boxes.”

Using a cloud-based server and proprietary software, the FreedTV Social Television Engine allows users to quickly find their friends and see what programs they are watching. In addition to identifying their own programming choices, friends form TV rooms using real-time messaging capabilities to share the viewing experience. The Social Television Engine is compatible with all video service providers, content providers, broadcast and cable networks and Internet video sites.