Interactive TV News Round-Up (V): Synacor, Grande Communications, UltraViolet, LodgeNet

Because the [itvt] editorial team has been working on TVOT NYC Intensive 2011, we are covering stories in this issue in round-up/summary format.

• Synacor, which claims to power programming portals and "TV Everywhere" services that reach over 30 million high-speed Internet customers around the world, has launched what it calls its "TV Everywhere for Everyone" (TVEE) campaign. The company says that the campaign sees it investing in a platform that will enable independent pay-TV operators in small rural and mid-sized markets to deploy TV Everywhere services. "Today TV Everywhere is being offered to the subscribers of only a handful of medium to larger MVPD's," the company states in its press materials. "The 900+ small to medium-size operators that service rural and suburban communities across the country do not have the internal resources to build the same service offering...Hundreds of independent pay-TV companies provide TV services to millions of subscribers, primarily located in rural and smaller suburban markets across America. By deploying Synacor's rapid-launch TVE solution, optimized for small to mid-tier independent operators, Synacor estimates 30% of rural subscribers could be TVE-ready by March 2012, and 100% could be TVE-ready in time for the 2012 London Summer Olympics. Synacor, having provided TV Everywhere services for a number of cable and satellite customers, has completed integrations with 24 authenticated pay-TV channels and more than 30 free channels delivering TV shows and movies...Synacor specializes in the TVE Search and Discovery experience based on metadata as well as providing mediation and authentication, providing a hassle-free, enjoyable TVE subscriber experience across multiple laptop, tablet, and mobile smart devices."
• In related news: Synacor says it has secured Grande Communications (serves around 125,000 subscribers in six Texan markets) as a TVEE customer. "When the services launch later this year as part of Synacor's newly announced 'TV Everywhere for Everyone' campaign--helping small and mid-sized independent operators quickly become TVE-ready--Grande subscribers will have access to TV Everywhere content at http://www.mygrande.net and on TVE-ready programmer Web sites," Synacor states in its press materials. Said Grande president, Matt Murphy: "Delivering TV Everywhere to every one of our subscribers is a top priority. We hear every day from customers who want the flexibility and convenience to watch their favorite programming whenever and wherever they may be. Synacor's rapid-launch TVE platform is truly a turn-key offering and is crucial to meeting our immediate business goals and satisfying our subscriber base."
• The Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) is now allowing consumers to set up accounts to use its UltraViolet digital rights locker system (is designed to allow consumers to view digital media content that they have purchased on multiple devices, once they have authenticated themselves). Warner Bros. has previously announced plans to release UltraViolet-enabled Blu-ray discs of the movies "Green Lantern" and "Horrible Bosses" on October 14th, and Sony has announced that it will release UltraViolet-enabled versions of "Friends with Benefits" and "The Smurfs" on December 2nd.
• In related news: Hospitality-industry interactive TV company, LodgeNet, has announced that it has joined DECE and that it is pursuing a "four-track strategy with regard to DECE and UltraViolet." According to the company, the strategy's components are: "1) Enabling access to UltraViolet digital media content by consumers in hotel guest rooms through LodgeNet's new Envision platform. 2) Laying the groundwork for future sale of movies (EST, or electronic sell through), potentially offering guests a 'try-and-buy' option for Hollywood programming. 3) Driving travelers' adoption of UltraViolet through in-room promotions and education via LodgeNet's guest-room interactive HDTV systems. And 4) providing hoteliers with the technology and consultative services necessary to serve UltraViolet subscribers staying in their properties." Said Derek S. White, president of LodgeNet's Interactive and Media Networks: "We are very excited to join DECE, whose members constitute a veritable 'who's who' of digital media providers and technology innovators. UltraViolet represents a revolutionary, consumer-centered approach to content consumption and positions LodgeNet to respond to consumers' demands for accessing their cloud-stored content as they travel through our Envision platform. Furthermore, guests will have the unique ability to rent a movie in a hotel, elect to purchase it through an up-charge and seamlessly have their ownership rights to it stored in their UltraViolet digital library for future viewing anytime, anywhere and on any device."