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Viggle Jan. 29 acquired Dijit Media, which builds and distributes a programming discovery service (NextGuide) for the Web and the iOS platform, that helps viewers search, find, and set reminders for their TV shows and movies, anywhere they’re available. “In a world where consumers have more choice than ever about where, when and how to watch programing, we are bringing to market a comprehensive platform to get the right show in front of the right person at the right time — wherever it is airing,” Consiglio said.

Amplify is Twitter’s name for partnerships with media companies that focuses on the second-screen experience: fans talking about events and issues on live TV shows. Ninety-five percent of “live TV conversation” currently happens on Twitter, the company said in a recent blog post,

Twitter is doing a very neat three-way deal between the NBA, which gets its highlights promoted, and in this case, the movie After Earth, which gets publicity and the chance to increase its Twitter audience via the embedded Follow @AfterEarth account.

A mélange of TV resource apps are getting together to help each other, and their users. Dijit, Thuuz, Tomorrowish, IVA and Simple.TV are partnering to integrate their products and services. The theory seems to be that they are stronger working together, rather than alone. Given the non-competitive positioning of each, this could be a boon for TV viewers. First a quick summary of what each of the companies does. Dijit’s NextGuide helps TV viewers discover new TV shows and remember to watch them. Thuuz provides real-time sports updates helping fans tune to the most interesting game on TV at any given time. Tomorrowish let’s viewers watching a show or event on-demand replay the social media buzz from the first broadcast. Internet Video Archive (IVA) specializes in providing show and movie trailers. Simple.TV provides live TV and network DVR services.

Thirty-four percent of millennials surveyed watch mostly online video or no broadcast television, new research from The New York Times says.

Users reported spending the most time with funny videos, movie clips, music videos and then news.

And 59 percent said they’ll likely watch pre-roll ads if they know they won’t have to wait long for their content.

“For movies and retailers, time-shifting can be a concern,” says Starcom’s Bowe. “That is why live TV is interesting to a lot of TV advertisers. Advertisers are demanding immediacy. Amassing an audience on a particular night is important.” Combating ad skipping empowered by the DVR is a bigger issue for TV stations than it is for network TV.

Advertisers typically buy local TV using Nielsen’s live-only or live-plus-same-day program ratings. Network TV is bought on C3 commercial ratings, which includes live viewing and three days of DVR playback. That means local TV advertisers pay for viewers who fast-forward through their commercials.

Live TV and social media were made for each other. In 2013, 36 million people in the United States sent 990 million Tweets about TV shows they were watching live, according to Nielsen SocialGuide. Moreover, 84% of people who have smartphones or computer tablets use those devices while watching TV.

Yahoo’s multimedia blogging platform Tumblr is already co-operating with Viacom to offer advertising opportunities around top Viacom TV programming, such as the MTV Movie Awards. It also recently commissioned research into its social TV engagement, positioning it as a direct competitor to Twitter.

The Voice USA runs its social TV engagement across multiple other social networks and mobile apps, including Google+, Keek, Pinterest, Snapchat, Tumblr and YouTube, plus Facebook’s Instagram and Twitter’s Vine.

Twitter, Facebook, WeChat and Sony have all launched rival World Cup social TV services.

About 84% of cord-cutters are “at least somewhat happy with their decision,” while 37% said they’re so happy that they have no plans to ever return to a traditional pay-TV service,

17% of U.S. broadband subscribers surveyed say they once took a pay-TV service but have since left their provider, while 10% say they have never subscribed to pay-TV (the so-called “cord-nevers”), and 74% said they currently take a pay-TV service.

The median time spent each week by pay-TV subs using the service is 12.98 hours. Next is Internet subscription VOD (4.89 hours), free over-the-air TV (4.72 hours), free Internet video (3.49 hours), and owned digital movies and TV shows (3.12 hours).

Investors should keep tabs on Verizon's negotiations with Intel to see if Verizon acquires the OnCue Internet-based TV services. If the deal goes through, investors should pay attention to how Verizon plans to use the OnCue services. Bundling OnCue services with Redbox Instant would incentivize subscribers to use Redbox services as a complete TV and movie entertainment package. Outerwall would greatly benefit from such a bundle because more Redbox users translates into expanding revenue. Also, additional offerings under the Redbox name will improve the company brand.

OnCue would be a good addition to Verizon because the company is already in the content business with Redbox Instant and FiOS TV. The question is whether Verizon can negotiate a good deal with Intel. The OnCue service would work well bundled with FiOS and Redbox Instant, or left as a stand-alone product.

The features of this service resemble those of a DVR, but the main difference is every show is recorded and available at any time. The OnCue hardware and services are currently being beta-tested by Intel employees and select users.

“We expect to see the Add-to-DVR option drive tune-in among consumers, as they are reminded about their favorite shows through websites, banner and mobile ads,” said Viggle president and COO Greg Consiglio, in a statement. “As an added benefit, viewers who check into any TV programs with the Viggle app will earn points that can be redeemed for free movies, TV shows and music at Viggle.com.”