Interactive TV News Round-Up (IV): Fannie Mae, GetGlue, "Guidelight," Hulu Plus

Due to the large volume of news generated by the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which took place last week in Las Vegas, we are covering stories in this issue in summary/round-up form. Our regular news coverage will return shortly.

• US government-backed mortgage securitization company, Fannie Mae, has launched an interactive video tool, dubbed "WaysHome," that is designed to educate homeowners about their options for avoiding foreclosure. "The 'WaysHome' video is set in a neighborhood that has been hurt by the foreclosure crisis," Fannie Mae explains in its press materials. "Real actors play three residents of the neighborhood--each in financial distress. Homeowners select to play one of the residents and, as their stories unfold, make important financial decisions for them and see how the consequences of these decisions play out. Fannie Mae provides helpful tips, tools and links during the process and users have the ability to go back and revise their decisions should their choices lead to a negative outcome. Most choices lead to an immediate consequence followed by a related teaching point."
• Social TV check-in service, GetGlue, has announced a promotional partnership with Fox and Fatburger, under which viewers who check-in with the series premiere of the show, "Bob's Burgers," can earn a Fatburger coupon. The company also recently announced a partnership with Showtime, under which viewers who check in to various of the latter's original shows can win DVD's of those shows.
• Production companies, iThentic and 3 o'clock.tv, are partnering on an interactive "transmedia" Web series, entitled "Guidestones," that combines linear episodes and interactive online content. The series is slated to be available this spring on Heavy.com and on Rogers' Shorts in the City. "The show follows two university students, drawn into a mystery that germinates into a global conspiracy spanning two continents," the show's producers state in their press materials. "The 'transmedia' series combines scripted drama with real people and events, creating a verite style designed to leave audiences wondering how much of the story is real, and how much is fiction."
• During Samsung's CES keynote (note: for more CES news from Samsung, see article in this issue), Hulu CEO Jason Kilar revealed that the company is working to bring its recently launched premium service, Hulu Plus, to select Android smartphones (running Android OS 2.2). Hulu has also recently launched Hulu Plus on Vizio connected TV's, and has announced plans to bring Hulu Plus to Haier connected TV's and Blu-ray players later this year.