Digitalsmiths and Audible Magic Team to Power Enhanced Second-Screen Viewing Experiences
Deal Integrates New Audible Magic Content ID Services into Digitalsmiths’ Seamless Discovery Platform
DURHAM, NC, and LOS GATOS, CA(16 Apr 2012)
Digitalsmiths, the leader in video content discovery and personalized viewing solutions, and Audible Magic, the leader in automated content recognition (ACR) technology, today announced that Audible Magic’s Live TVid and SmartSync services will be integrated into Digitalsmiths’ Seamless Discovery platform. The move will create the most comprehensive solution for developing premium second-screen applications that synchronize with live as well as recorded content at the scene level.
Vital to this enhanced solution are the unique—and complementary—capabilities of the two companies. Backed by the largest database of frame-by-frame, time-based data for TV, movies, and live events, Digitalsmiths’ Seamless Discovery has revolutionized the ease and speed with which personal, relevant, and engaging content is delivered to end-users across any connected device. The addition of the Live TVid and SmartSync services—which leverage Audible Magic’s patented digital fingerprint ACR technology to identify and synchronize TV content even if it is live, never-before-seen material—helps to create numerous new possibilities for more engaging TV viewing experiences. For content providers, advanced synchronization creates incredible new possibilities for enhanced viewing experiences that will drive deeper engagement and revenue.
“The partnership between Audible Magic and Digitalsmiths brings together two of the most important components needed to develop next-generation second-screen experiences: automated content recognition and deep, scene-level video data,” said Ben Weinberger, CEO of Digitalsmiths. “Content providers building second-screen applications now have an integrated, seamless solution for incorporating both. And this will definitely lead to major new opportunities for TV content providers, broadcasters, advertisers, and others to drive viewer engagement and generate new revenue streams.”
“A huge transformation is occurring in TV viewing,” added Jay Friedman, VP of Marketing for Audible Magic. “Overall, the experience is becoming far more interactive and social, and, in the process, people can also get programming from a wide range of sources from traditional broadcasters to over-the-top Internet content providers. For content producers, the challenge to deliver excellent, synchronized second-screen capabilities is growing exponentially. We see Digitalsmiths at the forefront of meeting this challenge, and we are delighted that its management and technical teams have chosen Live TVid and SmartSync as the right ACR solutions to complement its efforts.”
According to research firm The Diffusion Group the time is clearly ripe for this more enriched, more engaging second-screen user experience. In a recent report, the firm noted that 90% of tablet owners use their devices while watching TV, with 40% doing so at least once a day. “The second screen,” the report stated, “holds incredible opportunities for content providers to drive engagement and revenue.”
Audible Magic will be demonstrating its Live TViD and SmartSync services at the NAB show, April 16-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The company’s booth, #SU13903i, will be located in the Content Marketplace, South Hall Upper. To schedule a meeting with Digitalsmiths at the show, email chourigan@digitalsmiths.com.
About Digitalsmiths
The technology leader in video search and recommendation for interactive TV, Digitalsmiths offers solutions that greatly improve the accuracy and ease with which end-users find relevant, personalized entertainment across multiple channels and devices, including second screens such as smart phones and tablets. These solutions serve customers that span all media channels and devices and reach a combined audience of millions of consumers. Customers include Warner Bros, Paramount, Technicolor, Turner, the NBA, the PGA, and NASCAR.
About Audible Magic
Audible Magic Corporation is the trusted leader in digital fingerprinting for recognizing content in all forms across radio and television broadcasts, Internet streams, cable and satellite transmissions, stored digital files, and on consumer devices such as smart TVs, set-top boxes, smart phones, tablets, and other appliances. Currently, Audible Magic works with more than 200 customers and partners, including Miso, yap.TV, Accedo, Cinram, Facebook, NBC Universal, SoundCloud, Viacom, Disney, MySpace, Sony, Metacafe, Fox, Brightcove, and Universal Music.