July 26, 2010

Want the World Cup but Not All the Documentaries

The recent World Cup caused quite a furore but not just in the world of sport. The major sporting event had a massive impact on TV search results as people tried to find when the next game was on and on what channel.

However, in the mine field of options available to on-demand viewers they are inundated with results that aren’t even relevant. This is a major problem affecting content discovery platforms.

Getting the Right Choice

Having a wide choice of programmes is all well and good but an on-demand service also needs structure so that viewers can find what they want quickly and easily. The World Cup is a great example of a time-specific search that, due to the many different programmes about the World Cup, doesn’t always produce efficient results in searches.

Another example noticed recently is that of popular American import, Glee. The series finale has recently aired and most TV Search results will provide the latest episode as a first choice. In the case of dramas and series, offering a choice of catch-up material should be recommended.

With both of these issues it is about ensuring that users aren’t inundated with material so that choices can be refined and therefore more useful.