Interactive and social television firm TVplus has been tapped to power the second screen experiences for Discovery Communications. Cable’s Longest-Running Programming Event and Summertime Ritual, ‘Shark Week,’ First to Launch
TVplus, an award-winning technology company that delivers rich, interactive social television experiences for the second screen, has partnered with Discovery Communications, to power digital co-viewing experiences for Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet. Incorporated into existing and forthcoming network apps, the new TVplus powered experiences will expand on Discovery’s previous success with real-time social media, online and simultaneous viewing experiences and will launch with Shark Week on Sunday, August 12.
Now celebrating its 25th years, Shark Week viewers will be able to gain access to a rich second-screen experience – from behind-the-scenes information and shark facts to quizzes, polls and social conversation – through the Discovery Channel HD App for iPad beginning with the premiere of Air Jaws Apocalypse on August 12 at 9pm ET/PT. The audio-synced experience will be available for four more Shark Week specials premiering in the 9pm ET/PT timeslot through Thursday, August 16.
The TVplus platform is driven by a backend CMS known as ‘PET,’ which allows partners the ability to create, position, and publish interactive digital content against television programming, whether it is pre-queued or produced live.
Beyond the co-viewing experience for Shark Week, Discovery Communications will be incorporating the TVplus technology in future digital offerings across its family of networks, including Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet.
“Our audiences are at the center of our digital strategy, and we are always looking to deepen engagement with them and deliver on our mission to satisfy curiosity, whether through social media or our own websites and mobile applications. With 88 percent of tablet owners using their devices while watching TV , Discovery looks forward to offering more co-viewing experiences in conjunction with TVplus for many of our most popular programs.” ” – Rob Samuels, Director of Mobile, Discovery Communications.
TVplus CEO and Co-Founder, Ajay Shah, further added, “This partnership with Discovery Communications highlights the increasing importance that major television networks are giving to digital companion experiences. TVplus is proud to be the leader in providing these solutions to networks.”
The TVplus technology has been used to power such notable second-screen activations as the 2011 Emmy Awards, the inaugural season of The X Factor on FOX, and A&E Network’s most popular series, Storage Wars. Other major networks have also recently selected the Orange, California-based Tech Company, including CBS and Univision, with network-wide initiatives launching in the fall.
