TV Genius

Round up of statistics from TV of Tomorrow Show

Tom Weiss — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:56:14 +0000

Here’s a quick round up of the stastics that various presenters at TV of Tomorrow mentioned:

57% of Americans watch TV on the internet once a month
78% of tweens are regularly online while watching TV
TV viewing is at an all time high in America, despite internet predictions
TV accounts for 99% of all video viewing in America
Even amongst American teens, TV dominates, at 104:24 hrs during Q12009, compared with internet at 11:32hrs
83% of American internet video is still short form, i.e. clips
65% of American internet video use is in the workplace
WalMart is reponsible for 40% of American TV sales
70% of Panasonic TVs will support OTT video streaming

New build – performance, search, and remote record improvements

Tom Weiss — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:38:39 +0000

We’ve just released a new build of the platform, that contains the following updates:

Performance improvements across all components for the web and mobile epg services
Now display when show was last on if no search results were found
New remote record API
Bug fixes and minor enhancements
- Fix date inconsistencies when selecting early morning viewing
- No longer display the light box when a popover contains select element (IE6 workaround)
- Changed content type for small screen XML feed from text/xml to application/xml
- Removed spurious doctype references from some web epg components
- Support for more than one word in the day name (Danish support)
- Optionally include the show category in the show mouse over
- Support for customised phone number validation

Why do you need a TV recommendations engine?

Tom Weiss — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:32:59 +0000

I was asked today, why you need a dedicated recommendations engine for TV content, and the difference between TV recommendations and any general recommendations engine that you might use for e-commerce.

The simple answer is that TV content is different: the top 10 books on Amazon accounts for around 10% of daily sales, but the top 1% of channels in the UK account for 60% of all viewing and a popular show can account for up to a third of all viewing at a particular time.

This changes the statistical basis for making recommendations and we therefore need a tailored algorithm. One of the established weaknesses of collaborative filtering approaches is that they tend to overly recommend more popular items as there are simply more people who like that show, regardless of what else they like. When applied to TV content, this problem is exacerbated and leads to a tendency to always recommend the most popular shows and channels.

Of course, one of the main goals of implementing a TV recommendations engine is to drive take-up of less popular, VoD, IPTV, or pay TV channels, so it is important that the algorithm is specifically tailored to a TV environment and can take into account these differences.

You can read more about how our recommendations engine works by reading our white paper.

SeeSaw Ushers In The Year Of Video On Demand

homejames — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:33:10 +0000

The dawn of IPTV supported Video On Demand (VOD) is beginning after the launch of SeeSaw.

IPTV technology inspired site, SeeSaw has finally launched after weeks of its invitation-only beta trial. The British born VOD website will initially offer 3,000 plus hours of BBC, Channel 4 and Channel Five archived programmes with additional material to be added later.

The shift away from traditional viewing habits is taking shape as people reject adverts and television schedules for freedom to view what they want and when. The BBC iPlayer and Channel Four’s 4OD have been trailblazers for this medium, but they are largely perceived as catch-up services. SeeSaw will now provide a one-stop base to watch all of your favourite programmes when you want.

“2010 is the year it’s [VOD] finally going to happen”

The rise of VOD is likely to gather pace in 2010 with the joint BBC, ITV, Channel 4, BT and TalkTalk Project Canvas venture pencilled in for the autumn. This broadband-on-TV service has replaced the defunct Project Kangaroo which, ironically, formed the beginnings of SeeSaw.

Internet enabled Television sets are also likely to appear on the market later this year after being showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas during January.

Platform Controller at SeeSaw, John Keeling, is quoted saying: “I’ve been waiting for video on demand to take off since 2007, because I’d spent my career at MTV, Sky, Disney and UKTV essentially aggregating catalogue programming and then broadcasting it on linear TV – iPlayer and 4OD have blazed the trail and it feels like 2010 is the year it’s finally going to happen.”

VOD and innovation in the field of television design could irrevocably alter our viewing habits of the future.

Freeview iPhone app

Tom Weiss — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:07:19 +0000

Freeview HD iPhone App

We’re pleased to announce that we are powering the search and recommendation functionality for Freeview’s newly launched iPhone app. The app enables users to search Freeview channel schedules anywhere they are and whenever they want.

Freeview is a subscription-free DTT service in the UK that provides viewers with up to 50 TV channels and 24 radio stations. It is viewed on more than 18 million TV sets, and more than 10 million homes use the service as the main television service. The iPhone app, which is available now from the iTunes App Store, free of charge, allows users to search TV listings and receive recommendations based on their viewing preferences.

“We’re delighted that our newly launched iPhone app is equipped with such a sophisticated search and recommendations tool, helping Freeview consumers to quickly and simply find the content they want to watch, wherever they are,” said Adrian Mack, Online Manager, Freeview. “With the roll-out of HD services on Freeview, this app will enable viewers to discover the very highest quality programming to further enhance the TV experience. TV Genius provides us with a recommendations engine that offers relevant suggestions that will help users to discover an even greater choice of programmes. We have been impressed with the relevance that TV Genius’ solution provides.”

TV Genius is changing the way people consume entertainment by delivering powerful search that makes TV more relevant by allowing consumers to discover content and personalize their TV choices. The company’s relevance engine recommends content that accurately matches consumers’ viewing habits or preferred programmes. It acknowledges the importance of schedule-based relevance for linear television and the importance of episodic viewing and sequential events for on-demand services.

“Freeview’s deployment of our search and recommendation engine further demonstrates the relevance of results that the TV Genius solution provides,” said Tom Weiss, CEO, TV Genius. “Users of the Freeview iPhone app can now find out when their favourite programmes are on, as well as discover more fantastic content they may be not be familiar with, all from their mobile phone, in any location at any time.”

The Freeview app can be previewed here.

About Freeview

Freeview is now the provider of TV on the main set in 10 million homes. In total, more than two-thirds of the UK (18.2 million homes) has Freeview and the Freeview+ service has reached a base of 2.1 million users in two and a half years, making it the fastest growing ‘plus’ recorder since launch. For more information, visit www.freeview.co.uk

About TV Genius

TV Genius enhances the TV experience with personalized search that provides relevant recommendations consumers want across TV, mobile and the web. Brands including AOL, Sky, What’s on TV and ITV.com provide services powered by TV Genius to over 8 million users per month across the web, mobile, and set-top box. For more information visit www.tvgenius.net

Shortlisted for IPTV World Series Awards

Tom Weiss — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:53:59 +0000

We are delighted to annouce that we’ve been shortlisted for the category of Best Client Software/Intellectual Property Solution.

You can read full details here.

Partnership with NDS

Tom Weiss — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:59:25 +0000

We are pleased to announce that we have joined NDS’ recommendations engine partner programme and we’re looking forward to working with NDS to deploy our relevance technology to their customers.

You can read the full details in the press release here

Bringing TV Search Into the 21st Century

Baz Jay — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:45:27 +0000

The issue of TV search has long been confined to the archives, ignored in favour of popular electronic programming guides (EPG). However, through an explosion of quality content available for viewers, TV Search’s pertinence has grown.

Nowadays people want the benefits of quickly finding shows by a favourite actor or actress, a particular sport or just a specialised programme. However, for a long time it has been held back by three key issues:

1 – Programme metadata

This has traditionally been sparse, only allowing for basic searches like programme titles. The reason for this is due to limited bandwidth in the broadcast stream, which only allocates a few keywords for a programme description.

2 – Technical constraints

Storing a large amount of metadata will require a considerable amount of memory, which would lead to very expensive products in a competitive market. Therefore, most televisions aren’t designed with these capabilities. However, the growth of IPTV technology and Over The Top (OTT) services has allowed search engines to reside on the Internet, taking the strain away from televisions.

3 – Limitations of search algorithms

Search algorithms on set-top boxes are traditionally very basic, often limited to searching the first letter of the title. For an extensive TV search algorithm, Google’s PageRank system is the kind needed. Their system works because pages are linked together, a similar structure for TV would allow a great strength of content to define searches.

Streamlining VOD Search Habits

Now, a recommended strong search algorithm combined with high quality metadata in a connected TV environment could help to speed up TV search technology and streamline people’s video on demand (VOD) habits.

This should be led by strong metadata which will allow a search algorithm to relate the most relevant results based on cast, keywords, genre etc. Metadata should also include extended descriptions of programmes, particularly prime-time shows.

This can also improve the accuracy of information should there be any changes. When repeating a programme that has seen changes to the billed line-up, the search results should reflect this.
This effective algorithm should have the capabilities to filter out repeats and older content so that more relevant results are presented to viewers. The same can be applied to prioritising programmes based on relevancy.

For a more detailed breakdown of how TV search can be improved TV Genius have produced an extended TV search white paper

No related posts.

Improving the relevance of TV search – new white paper

Tom Weiss — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:20:04 +0000

We have released today our latest white paper, on the challenges of improving TV search.

To quote from the introduction:

As more and more TV channels become available carrying high quality programming, and with the increasing take up of video on demand (VoD) services, operators and viewers are turning to search as an alternative to the traditional electronic programming guide (EPG). This increases the amount of viewing done by the viewer and subsequently raises their loyalty towards the TV service, leading to a reduction in churn for Pay TV providers, and lower customer acquisition costs for other providers of TV listings services.

The white paper is available online here and also in PDF format.

Boxee Cuts the Cable on Web TV

homejames — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:52:28 +0000

Boxee, the free online software that allows you to collate and manage what you view online, are releasing a box that will allow you to transpose what you see on the computer to the TV – without wires!

In the world of technology, everything seems inextricably linked to the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas as talk of tablet computers, 3D TV’s and video on demand (VOD) intensifies. So it comes as no surprise that this blog post should also focus on an innovation announced there.

Making VOD Neater and Easier to Manage

The way we watch TV is already being influenced by IPTV technology merging broadcast programmes with VOD. In fact you probably already view online content through your TV courtesy of your PS3, Xbox 360 or set-top box.

However, the often cumbersome need to connect your computer or console – with broadband capabilities – to your TV is becoming a thing of the past. As of May this year, all you’ll have to do is turn on your computer and then sit back and surf through the content you want to watch or view.

Boxee is bringing the web and TV together in a more harmonious marriage as the cable slowly becomes a thing of the past. The interface, supported by IPTV technology, allows ease of access between images, music, online content and videos, all accessed from your computer through a Wi-Fi connection.

The key feature of the Boxee box is an innovative remote that displays a QWERTY keyboard on the back, allowing you to type in your searches and watch what you view from your sofa.

“The future of television content is about watching anything you want, any time you want, on demand.”

Speaking to Web Pro News at CES, Boxee’s Zach Klein effused that “the future of television content is about watching anything you want, any time you want, on demand.”

Because the software is supported by apps, the more that become available, the more content users will be able to access through Boxee.

With Internet-ready TV’s on the way and Skype integrated screens causing a stir, being able to manage our entertainment needs from one source is bedding in for the future. As technology becomes more harmonious we are also enjoying the benefits that cable-less connections offer.