NDS Launches Recommendations Engine Partner Program, Signs Up Jinni as First Partner

Interactive TV and conditional access technology provider, NDS, on Tuesday announced the launch of its Recommendations Engine Partner Program, and said that Jinni, an Israeli company that has developed a semantic search-and-recommendation engine which it bills as being based on "content genetics and user psychographics," is the first company to join the program (note: Jinni, which in September announced the appointment of cable-industry veteran, Mike Pohl, as CEO--see the article published on itvt.com, September 30th--recently announced partnerships with OpenTV and SeaChange International--see the articles published on itvt.com, August 12th and September 9th--and also teamed with NDS on a demo at the IBC show in Amsterdam).

NDS says that, through the new program, it will offer Jinni's services to its customers in recommendation engine-based initiatives. Incorporating a recommendations service, it argues, enables operators to offer additional content to viewers based on their current viewing profile, thus providing them with a powerful way to encourage subscribers to try new programs and premium services. According to NDS, Jinni's semantic approach, which is based on proprietary algorithms, reflects the way people think and talk about entertainment, and enables intelligent content discovery by shifting the focus from rigid categories and keyword search to results that match the consumer's taste. "NDS's global experience and established relationships in the digital pay-TV industry are invaluable to expanding the reach of our service," Jinni CEO, Mike Pohl, said in a prepared statement. "By joining this partner program, Jinni is positioned as a crucial component of an end-to-end portfolio that will enable customers to more accurately relate to their subscribers and supply them with highly relevant viewing suggestions. Our technology dives deeper into consumers' viewing habits to make it easier for them to find a program or movie that could potentially be their next favorite." Added NDS's chief marketing officer, Nigel Smith: "Finding new and interesting content is proving a chore for consumers--having to wade through hundreds of channels, they do not want to spend time looking for programs to watch. The ability to provide contextually customized recommendations to a viewer increases content consumption and boosts satisfaction levels which in turn increases revenues and reduces churn for the operator. As a result of our Recommendations Engine Partner Program and its first partnership with Jinni, NDS can offer a selection of recommendation engines to our customers, allowing them to implement an exceptional end-to-end solution that will address these consumer desires and enable our customers to see increased revenue generation."

In the press release issued by Jinni in September to announce his appointment as CEO, Mike Pohl described the advantages the company claims for its semantic search technology as follows: "Content discovery today is based on keyword searches that don't factor in the personal and emotional aspects of what a consumer wants to watch. Jinni's intelligent approach, based on proprietary algorithms, reflects the way people think and talk about entertainment, and shifts the spotlight from rigid categories and keyword search to results that match a real consumer's tastes. For example, a search for 'funny action movie with a surprise twist' or 'smart love story' will yield real results. Our taste engine also creates a unique model of the consumer's likes and dislikes, which is the basis for recommendations and a highly personalized experience. For example, Jinni can tell that I like clever gangster movies about cons and scams, as well as witty urban romantic movies about opposites that attract."