Interactive TV News Round-Up (VII): Sony, Google TV, TransGaming, Yahoo!, IntoNow, TMS

Due to the large volume of news being generated by this week's 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), we are covering stories in this issue in round-up/summary format. We anticipate that it will take us several days to process all the news from the show: so if your company has sent us a press release or briefed us on an announcement, and you don't yet see your news covered in this issue, please bear with us. While the [itvt] editorial team catches up with CES news, please check out the live Twitter coverage of the show from [itvt] bloggers, Will Keller and Zachary Weiner, by following the @tswedlow Twitter feed.

• At CES earlier this week, Sony unveiled two new devices powered by the Google TV platform: the NSZ-GS7 Network Media Player and the NSZ-GP9 Blu-ray Disc Player, which are scheduled to be available in retail in North America and Europe in early summer, with distribution in other regions to follow later. "In 2010, Sony introduced the world's first television and a Blu-ray Disc player powered by Google TV," the company states in its press materials. "In 2011, the platform was updated and added the Android Market, making the first-generation Sony Internet TV devices easier to navigate and giving viewers access to over one thousand apps, including approximately 150 apps optimized for TV, for an enhanced customized entertainment experience. The Google TV difference starts with the cross-search functionality, which crawls all content sources available from broadcast providers and the Internet to deliver customized video results on-demand. Both new boxes come complete with a redesigned remote control equipped with a backlit QWERTY keyboard, a touchpad for easy operation and a three-axis motion sensor to enjoy games. Additionally, the remote control can also be utilized as a universal remote to control connected devices such as TV, set-top box and amplifiers--the NSZ-GP9 Blu-ray Disc Player even incorporates voice search capabilities. By using Sony apps Media Remote and TrackID for Android and iOS mobile devices, users may achieve cross-device connectivity. TrackID is also pre-installed in NSZ-GS7 and NSZ-GP9, allowing customers to search on their connected TV. The new remote control can manage basic operations on select compatible 2012 Bravia televisions and seamlessly display Android Market or apps on the menu screen."
• TransGaming (which just acquired the interactive/connected TV operations of Oberon Media--see the article published on itvt.com, January 4th) has launched multiscreen support for GameTree, its on-demand gaming platform for connected TV. "GameTree TV's multiscreen capabilities allow iOS and Android devices to be seamlessly integrated into the GameTree TV experience," the company states in its press materials. "Consumers can now enjoy a greater degree of immersive interactive gameplay, and enhanced social experiences through multi-player competition where their handheld devices and the television screen are leveraged to create new and unique forms of gameplay. Furthermore, multiscreen enables a greater degree of connectivity as players can compete against one-another when gathered in the same living room or competing against one another from different connected living rooms around the world." Said TransGaming president and CEO, Vikas Gupta: "With the number of handheld devices in the home today, multiscreen integration is a natural but far-reaching enhancement to GameTree TV that connects the mobile environment to the smart-TV environment. Soon GameTree TV consumers will battle head-to-head as they play a range of iconic games on their tablets and handheld devices while watching the action unfold on the big screen. The television in the living room has always been a social experience. We are now heightening that experience through the addition of multiscreen capabilities on GameTree TV to deliver the richest interactive entertainment experience possible." TransGaming is demo'ing the new capability in Intel's booth (7253, Central Hall) at CES.
• At CES earlier this week, Yahoo! provided an update on its Yahoo! Connected TV platform and on how it is using the ACR technology it acquired via its purchase of IntoNow last year (see the article published on itvt.com, April 26th). "Yahoo!'s unique broadcast interactivity technology, which delivers real-time Internet content to complement the TV show or advertisement being watched, becomes available on Sony Bravia TV's at the 2012 International CES conference this week," the company states in its press materials. "More than a million people engage with the Yahoo! Connected TV experience each month to access Internet and video content from a collection of more than 180 TV apps. New TV apps from top brands including ABC, AT&T Yellow Pages, Disney, ESPN, iHeart Radio by Clear Channel and The Wall Street Journal will be showcased this week at CES...Engaging TV viewers with relevant and compelling content, Yahoo!'s broadcast interactivity can deliver interactive TV experiences including show trivia, voting, shopping, videos, photos, game show play, and more, alongside the show a person is watching. The feature leverages the patented SoundPrint technology developed by IntoNow from Yahoo!, which identifies the show being watched--regardless of live, recorded, cable, broadcast, or satellite-based video. For example: 1) Viewers of live sporting events, such as 'Showtime Boxing,' can vote for the boxer they think will win the match, and view related information such as photos or videos. 2) Consumers can use their TV remotes to purchase an item being highlighted on HSN, access real-time inventory data on products, and take advantage of specials of the day. 3) In the first quarter of 2012, viewers will also be able to interact with TV programming by tagging their favorite shows for social, content and rewards-based experiences using IntoNow from Yahoo on their TV...At CES, Yahoo! will showcase device interactivity between Yahoo! Connected TV and iPad, iPhone and Android devices. The new Yahoo! Connected TV mobile apps will let people use their smartphones and tablets to more easily interact with TV apps. Features will include the ability to launch and interact with TV apps from the phone or tablet, TV video playback, and text-entry capabilities for posting updates and comments or making purchases. Advertisers now have the ability to connect with their audience through custom display ads viewable inside Yahoo! Connected TV apps. Toyota, for example, kicked off an integrated, multiscreen campaign centered around Fantasy Football across Yahoo!, and became the first advertiser to have a display ad featured within a Yahoo! Connected TV app. Yahoo!'s new broadcast interactivity feature also provides advertisers with an interactive TV ad experience, helping consumers take action on TV commercials by purchasing products, ordering samples, reading reviews, or viewing product information. Initial broadcast interactivity launch advertisers include Fidelity Investments, Ford and Sony. More information about Yahoo! Connected TV advertising opportunities is available at http://advertising.yahoo.com/connected-tv/." (Note: Yahoo is also using IntoNow technology to enhance coverage of CES that it is offering this week in partnership with Spike TV. The Wrap has more.)
• Tribune Media Services (TMS) said Tuesday that its Zap2it TV listings site surpassed TV Guide in audience size during November 2011, according to data from comScore. "Zap2it advertisers benefit by having access to 8 million US-based unique visitors per month," TMS states in its press materials. "The Zap2it audience is comprised of 'TV Sociables'--fans who fervently follow their favorite shows, movies and celebrities on social media; actively comment on blogs and fan sites; and regularly recommend content to their personal networks. Possessing voracious appetites for entertainment, TV Sociables are highly engaged with the content they love and the fellow fans who share their passions. Zap2it continues to be one of the fastest growing entertainment site networks on the Web. In September, Zap2it reached a record high of 8.5 million unique visitors. For November, Zap2it was ranked 11th out of more than 350 properties comprising comScore's 'Entertainment-TV' category." Said Zap2it general manager, Rebecca Baldwin: "Surpassing TV Guide in audience validates our product strategy and marks a significant step towards our goal of becoming the 'must-buy' TV site network. Our focus on social TV, new mobile offerings as well as online TV listings and editorial enhancements in 2012 will ensure the continuing improvement our product and expansion of our reach for the benefit of our advertisers."