Social TV and Film

YuMe conducted a study that tracked how millennials consume media, finding that 13% watch video content on their smartphones while they work, while another 13% watch while they shop. In total, 94% of millennials are multitasking (and likely distracted) while viewing content.

Smartphones and tablets, not televisions, are the gateway to a millennial audience. Millennials recall brands at a much better rate when they're on mobile devices, and they think of the TV as old-fashioned. In fact, only 3.1% of millennials consider brands that advertise on TV as being "modern."

More than twice that number think of smartphone advertisers as having "modern" brands.

You want your new definition of social TV? There you have it. It's not a useless check-in app, it's short, sometimes sweet, sometimes powerful, highly consumable content. When you marry that with TV content that shares the same characteristics, you have a bright future for quality television and its second screen.

Limited series, anthology formats, and binge viewing Netflix shows are beginning to resemble how one-offs like the Super Bowl or the Grammy's behave on the Web, where there's a groundswell of conversation for a limited period of time.

Facebook today announced a partnership with UK-based social TV analytics company SecondSync.

The partnership is a big deal because it means Facebook’s social TV data will be made available outside the company for the first time. In two weeks, SecondSync plans to share initial results in a white paper titled “Watching with Friends” with a full analysis of how people are using Facebook to engage with TV.

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.

Twitter users recall TV advertisements at a far greater rate than non-users, according to an upcoming study from the social media platform.

There’s a 37% increase in ad recall among people watching TV and tweeting,” he said, adding that users tweeting about TV shows are doing so through their airing not during commercial breaks.

Delegates were told that four out of five US viewers are regularly using another device while watching TV.

Almost three months after striking a deal to acquire second screen TV app specialist GetGlue, i.TV has "retired" the GetGlue brand while introducing a new brand and social TV app called "tvtag" that will enable users to share, comment on and react to what they’re watching.

Tvtag will aggregate the i.TV second screen audiences from GetGlue, DirecTV and Nintendo (via the Nintendo TVii feature that’s baked into the Wii U console and Wii U GamePad). i.TV CEO Brad Pelo said the move will give tvtag access to an aggregate, potential reach of about 10 million users.

The new app replaces the GetGlue platform with one that  lets users “tag” moments within individual TV shows and sporting events with comments, doodles and memes. Keeping some of the old GetGlue features in place, tvtag will still let users “check in” to a show to unlock digital stickers, while also integrating user polls tied to TV content and the ability to share show-related info on Twitter and Facebook.

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.

or Internet-based TV to be a competitive option, it either needs to be cheaper than cable and satellite or it needs to provide the content that subscribers want in a better way.

For the companies still working on Web TV, it would mean charging less than traditional competitors for a service while paying more than traditional competitors to offer it.

for a Web TV offering to be truly Web TV, it would need to offer all the channels consumers want alongside the "over-the-top" video capabilities like Netflix and Hulu that they associate with Internet viewing.