HomeInsightsWhere will the battle for the second screen be fought and won?

SKY + integration:  Sky’s new Sky+ app for iPad has gone live, taking the existing ‘companion screen’ features like channel change and DVR bookings and layering onto the ‘second screen’, such as connecting to online communities around shows and seeking additional show-related information.  http://www.v-net.tv/bskyb-points-the-way-towards-the-umbrella-app/ Having taken a 10% share in zeebox, Sky have now released the first service iteration of a zeebox/Sky service.  Sky + now has a “powered by zeebox” functionality that pulls many of the features that have so impressed about zeebox, right into the Sky + app.  This may well show the way forward in the much debated question about where the battleground for the seconds screen / companion activity will pan out – at least part of the winning solution is likely to lie in the hands of the platform provider.  Viacom, Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal invest in zeebox:  zeebox has entered into a partnership with Viacom, a week after rolling out in the US. Viacom will invest an undisclosed amount in the US side of the business and will promote the service. It is also preparing to enhance its top shows using zeebox. Comcast and NBCUniversal made similar financial commitments to the service last week.  http://www.c21media.net/archives/89449  With further platforms investing – so expect the functionality to turn up in their companion solutions very soon.  Meanwhile in the UK: zeebox has an X Factor rival show on its tablet and smartphones App, providing commentary about The X Factor as the show airs. The activity has nothing to do with ITV or Fremantle. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/digital-media/9585432/ITVs-X-Factor-revenues-at-risk-from-rival-Zeebox-show.html A  further indication of the direction zeebox can take the activity – pushing the boundaries possibly in terms of the parallel activity and commercialisation around others’ content and brands. The X Factor is on the telly,  yappfactor is on zeebox’s X Factor area…..where to look…..? For more information please contact David Deakin on david.deakin@wiggin.co.uk

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