U.S. Broadcast Groups Team Up to Launch Social TV Experience

EMERYVILLE: Ten TV broadcast groups, which own a combined 201 stations across the U.S., have struck a long-term partnership with ConnecTV, a real-time social network built for TV viewers, in an effort to provide an enhanced "second screen" experience.

ConnecTV allows viewers to interact with other fans watching the same program, while also providing a range of related content and promotional opportunities that are synced to what’s being watched. All of the broadcast partners plan to integrate their programming with ConnecTV and promote the new service on air and online. The broadcasters will have local ads appear within ConnecTV as well. A number of the broadcasters have made investments in ConnecTV.

Participating broadcast TV groups include Barrington Broadcasting Group, Belo Corp., Cox Media Group, E.W. Scripps Co., Gannett Broadcasting, Hearst Television, Media General , Meredith Corp., Post-Newsweek Stations and Raycom Media. These TV groups own a combined 201 stations—made up of ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CW and WB affiliates. Nine of the ten broadcast groups had previously formed a venture named Pearl, which, as part of this partnership, will expand and coordinate the affiliate base of participating local broadcasters for ConnecTV.

"From its very beginning, television has always been a big part of the daily American discourse. In this digital era, much of this dialogue now takes place on social media platforms. As local broadcasters, we love that people are talking about our shows," said Alan Frank, the president and CEO of Post-Newsweek Stations on behalf of Pearl. "We looked long and hard for a partner that could create a compelling environment that would encourage, enhance and monetize that dialogue, even during live programs including news coverage or sporting events—and we found it at ConnecTV."

"Our mission is for ConnecTV to be the social network that empowers entertainment, news and sports fans to share the greatest moments in television," added ConnecTV’s co-founder, Ian Aaron. "The team at ConnecTV is thrilled to work with the leaders in local news and television across America as we bring to market an innovative and engaging second-screen experience for all TV viewers that works seamlessly across all programming genres and on all platforms. With over 5 billion TV viewers and the explosion of tablets and smart phones globally, we are truly at the beginning of a new way to watch TV."