Interactive TV News Round-Up (V): SnappyTV, Sony Pictures, Telefonica, thePlatform

Due to the large volume of news generated by the recent 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 more 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.

• San Francisco-based start-up, SnappyTV, used President Obama's Tuesday-night State of the Union Address to launch Pro Editor, which it bills as "the Web's first cloud-based, live video editing tool that allows content owners and their fans to instantly publish highlight clips from live content to the Web in a rights-friendly way. It allows broadcasters, media and other rights-approved users to instantly create clips of live TV and Web streams, as they air, and share them on Facebook, Twitter, blogs and other social media outlets in real time," the company's press materials continue. "SnappyTV is opening up our platform for anyone to use during this year's State of the Union Address. The SnappyTV Pro Editor provides a powerful tool for content owners, bloggers and news outlets to instantly publish clips from TV or streaming Web video to fans or followers. Key features of the Pro Editor include: 1) Cloud-based live editing functionality allows editors, marketers, and social media managers to create clips of live shows using a standard computer and Web connection. 2) One-click social publishing to blogs, social networks and content management systems, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Quick access to embed code or file download lets you add clips to your blog or news story in seconds and integrations with Brightcove and Ooyala extend your reach. 3) Integrated Twitter tabs let editors track the social buzz around their content, direct message influencers with video clips and make informed editing decisions. 4) Collaboration options let multiple users create and share clips together, enabling real-time editing workflows never before possible. Our iPhone app allows remote team members to suggest edit points and text to editors. 5) Embeddable widgets enable customers to instantly publish clips to an existing Web site or second-screen app." Said SnappyTV CEO, Mike Folgner: "Every month, there are over 3 billion messages on Facebook and Twitter referencing real-time TV content. This year's State of the Union will drive a massive conversation online, and we enable anyone to publish clips into that conversation as it's happening. The State of the Union provides us with a unique opportunity to let everyone try our powerful real-time publishing platform. With the SnappyTV Pro Editor, tight social integration and embeddable widgets, we're providing the tools that broadcasters and content rights holders need to infuse the social conversation with the video of the moments fans are buzzing about."
• Sony Pictures has signed a deal with Madrid-based international telecommunications company, Telefonica, that will see the latter offering all new Sony Pictures movie releases, as well as a range of catalog titles and TV series, on its VOD platforms in Latin America. "This content (in addition to trailers and advertising material) will be distributed in the Latin American countries where the Telefonica group operates through its new VOD platforms of Telefonica and Terra," the companies state in their press materials. "Users will be able to access Sony Pictures' feature film content, including new releases, on a pay-per-view basis. Subscribers to the company's monthly subscription services will have access to a wide selection of library films and series. As part of the agreement, VOD titles include recent releases such as 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,' 'Moneyball,' and 'The Smurfs,' and future releases such as 'Men in Black III' and 'The Amazing Spider-Man.' Furthermore, multiscreen access will be offered, through devices such as online TV, tablets, PC's, smartphones or game consoles. This agreement will enhance the content offered on Telefonica's virtual videoclub platform in all Latin American countries in which it operates. The two companies have agreements already in place in Spain, the Czech Republic and Germany."
• Comcast-owned white-label video publishing company, thePlatform, said Tuesday that it is now offering a Player Service, giving its customers the ability to build their own custom online video players. "thePlatform's Player Service lets you launch unique players that are configured for PC's, Macs, mobile phones, and OTT devices in a matter of minutes," the company states on its blog. "And best of all, it's a hosted service. The Player Service provides a simple-to-use console, so non-technical users can build their own players--choosing from 8 different layout templates, multiple skins, dozens of color schemes, and more--within a matter of minutes. Key benefits of our new Player Service: 1) Unique players are created on the fly. 2) Requires minimal resources--anyone on your team can create a great-looking player. 3) Offers ad policy support for HTML5 including mid-roll support. 4) Inline preview features lets you view player changes while you work. 5) Players are hosted by thePlatform. Our Player Service offers all standard features offered in our Player Dev Kit, without the need to build it through code or host it. Standard features for all players include full-screen playback, sharing, embed code, auto-start playback and support for our partner plug-ins."