KIT digital Announces Social TV Solution

KIT Social TV is a key component of the KIT Video Platform, the company's next-generation cloud-based platform solution for broadcast-grade IPTV/OTT multiscreen broadband head-end deployments.

"Social TV is not just a buzz word; it's the future of TV -- driven by IP technology and people's desire to have a deeper engagement with their favorite content and with other viewers in a virtual living room environment," said Alex Blum, chief operating officer at KIT digital. "As MVSPs look to leverage the ubiquity of social media and the proliferation of connected devices to further engage audiences and monetize media content streams, the key to success lies in developing a second-screen strategy that provides control, while complementing and enhancing the viewing experience. KIT digital's Social TV solution provides the canvas for the most creative content producers, advertisers, and merchandisers to create impactful social TV experiences."

KIT Social TV was developed with a deep understanding of the relative social quotient for various types of programming, and emerging forms of user behavior in social discovery, social content breaks, social interaction and syndication -- originating in the expertise and multi-year product development initiatives of KickApps and Polymedia, two companies acquired by KIT digital earlier in 2011.

KIT Social TV easily enables companion device social applications that enhance the broadband TV viewing experience and provide new opportunities for audience engagement and monetization. This second-screen solution can include a smartphone or tablet being used as a remote control and program guide, as well as an interactive device that delivers personalized information about the content and feedback from other viewers -- such as currently trending programming and previous behavior-based viewing recommendations. It also enables the delivery of highly interactive personalized and targeted advertising and socially driven e-commerce functionality.

KIT Social TV Features

Mobile TV Synchronization - Turn user's companion devices (tablets, smartphones) into advanced second screens that synchronize with the TV program/movie being watched. The KIT Video Platform automatically manages authentication between the TV and specified devices.

Companion Viewing Applications - Allow publishers to easily build interactive apps for mobile and connected devices that enhance the experience of watching TV with live social media streams, exclusive content and commerce functionality.

Connected TV Apps - Harness social conversations around video content by aggregating relevant activity from a viewer's social graph (Facebook and Twitter, for example), directly to the user's mobile or tablet device.

Second Screen Advertising and Commerce - When an advertisement is screening on the TV, the mobile application accompanying the content can show a related mobile advertisement and brand experience that is interactive, web-connected and personalized based on the authenticated user.

TV Remotes and Electronic Program Guides - Sync mobile devices with the television, to become advanced TV remotes and automatically retrieve program guides, browse content by channel and day to watch instantly or record for later, and store viewer behavior for the purpose of future content recommendations and sharing.

Connected TV VOD Store - Enable users to browse and search KIT Video Platform-enabled video-on-demand stores on connected TVs, tablets, and other connected devices, and detailed information about the content including synopses, directors and actors. Before purchasing the content, viewers can preview a clip on their mobile device or television.

Social Search Functionality - Allow users to discover content recommendations based on shared tastes, via KIT's Social TV solution search tool. See what other viewers of the same content are watching or see what your friends are watching.

Content Recommendations - Use the activity, ratings and comments of the audience to discover the most popular content that viewers are watching.

Profile and Account Management - Enable viewers to manage their public and private profile details, view their purchased titles and record programs to their account on connected TVs, tablets, mobile and other connected devices.

Check-In Services - Provides a custom check-in capability or integration with leading third party check-in service providers to enable easy social syndication of TV engagement out to the social web.

About the KIT Video Platform

The Social TV functionality is fully integrated with the newly unveiled, next-generation KIT Video Platform. The KIT Video Platform provides media & entertainment companies, network operators, and non-media enterprises a comprehensive and highly flexible platform solution to produce, manage and deliver live and on-demand, socially-enabled broadband TV deployments. The KIT Video Platform's two editions, KIT Cloud and KIT Cosmos, are built on a common architecture and object model, and each caters to different ends of the video market--from enterprises deploying internal video systems, to broadcasters and telcos deploying multiscreen 'TV Everywhere' initiatives.

KIT digital representatives will be available to demonstrate and discuss the KIT Video Platform, KIT Social TV solution and KIT Connected Device Framework, along with the company's full suite of professional services capabilities, at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2011 Booth 1.D71 being held in Amsterdam on September 9-13.

KIT digital Contact:
Gannon Hall
Executive Vice President, Marketing
Tel. +420 724 391 434

SOURCE: KIT digital, Inc.