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
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.
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
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.
We are please to announce the launch of a social TV application with ITV to drive traffice to their ITV Player service.
The platform is driven by our recommendations engine and the content discovery platform. You can try the app here. You can read the press release here. Tom.
TV Genius Launches Converged 3 Screen Solution for TV search and Recommendation
Builds on success in mobile and web to deliver converged solution for scheduled, VOD and premium TV programming
London, UK – December 4th, 2009 – TV Genius today announced the launch of a converged 3 screen TV Search and recommendation engine for the web, mobile and TV. The company’s content discovery platform (CDP) and relevance engine have been built from the ground up specifically to meet the needs of TV discovery, providing richer content aggregation and allowing viewers to discover programming from a variety of sources – including broadcast TV and catch-up/VOD on television or online.
As operators compete to be the gateway to home entertainment, personalized TV is a key service differentiator. TV Genius offers easy-to-use search and recommendation functionality so viewers can explore content across a variety of platforms. This reduces churn and increases ARPU by enabling TV service providers to give viewers the TV search results that keep them coming back and wanting more. It builds on four years of development and over 20 web and mobile deployments in seven countries to deliver a 3 screen solution.
“The number of TV channels keeps growing and with the emergence of online video on TV devices, it is important that service providers offer content discovery that is relevant and simple to use,” said Tom Weiss, CEO, TV Genius. “Viewers are not getting the most from multichannel services and sticking to familiar channels only. TV Genius’ Content Discovery Platform helps them find the relevant programming that will engage them for longer. Operators and content owners can therefore benefit from reduced churn and increased revenue through the monetization of VOD or premium content.”
For television operators, TV Genius’ end to end search and recommendation solutions will help to increase the time viewers spend consuming Pay-TV services, maintaining the relevance of the operator as the primary entertainment aggregator in the home. They are able to differentiate their services from other platforms by providing a more personalized television service, leading to higher customer acquisition and increased advertising revenue opportunities.
“We’re delighted to launch our 3 screen converged solution which builds upon our deployment experience on the web and mobile to enable a consistent video discovery experience wherever the user is and whatever device they use,” added Tom Weiss. “Our Content Discovery Platform provides a number of operational and revenue generating benefits to content owners and operators, as well as enabling television viewers to explore the increasingly converged broadcast and broadband video landscape.”
We are delighted to link to What’s On TV’s fantastic new TV Listings site, powered by our content discovery platform.
The Daily Mail has now launched their online EPG using the TV Genius content discovery platform. Take a look here.
We are pleased that our customer Aller has launched their first web epg using our content discovery platform, TV Tjek.
This is great example of a site that integrates the personalisation and search features of the content discovery platform with the rich editorial that comes from a publisher of Aller’s stature.
TV Genius will be at Telemedia 360 tommorrow in Liverpool presenting on the opportunities in the IPTV industry for telcos and media businesses. If you are coming along then make sure you come and see us.