Knology, WSFA and WCOV to Launch BCM's (BackChannelMedia) EBIF-Based "Clickable TV" Tech

BCM (formerly known as BackChannelMedia)--a company that offers a patent-pending technology called Clickable TV, which allows viewers to forward or "bookmark" information from their TV to a personal Web portal or to their email account--said Wednesday that it is launching the technology in Montgomery, Alabama in association with cable operator, Knology, and two local TV stations. According to the company--which says that Clickable TV is "the first of several groundbreaking products and services" that it will announce this year--NBC affiliate, WSFA 12 News, and Fox affiliate, WCOV Fox 20, will work with Knology to roll out and promote the technology to Knology digital HD cable subscribers this quarter. "BCM is thrilled to be working with WSFA, WCOV and Knology to provide TV viewers with this new interactive experience," BCM chairman and CEO, Daniel Hassan, said in a prepared statement. "In 2011, BCM will roll out a series of fresh and innovative products such as Clickable TV, which connects viewers directly with the programming, brands and advertisers that they are interested in, according to their own preferences. We are looking forward to launching these new products nationwide."

Clickable TV presents viewers with a "Clickable Moment" icon, indicating that the content they are seeing on-screen is "bookmarkable": when they see the icon, they can use the "select" button on their remote control to forward the content to their email account or a personal Web page. They are then automatically sent a link connecting them to the Web site and information they have requested without, BCM says, any interruption of their viewing experience.

According to BCM, Clickable TV--which it says is free of charge to viewers, requires no additional product installation in the home, and uses viewers' existing remote controls--is an EBIF application that provides cable operators with new revenue potential from TV content and advertising sources including local ad sales, cable networks and local broadcasters. BCM says that Raycom Media-owned WSFA, which is launching Clickable TV this month, and independently owned WCOV will offer the technology with both their local programming and advertising. According to the company, the deployments will mark the first time that local TV stations have collaborated with a cable operator to deploy an EBIF-based RFI application. "Clickable TV provides our viewers with a new, creative way to interact with our programming and commercials," WSFA general manager, Ken Selvaggi, said in a prepared statement. "For Montgomery advertisers, we are introducing a two-way method of communication for the first time, and all it takes is a single click." Added WCOV president, David Woods: "Clickable TV will allow Knology digital subscribers to request and obtain additional information on a products and services broadcasted on WCOV. We are pleased to be on the leading edge of this new technology." (Note: A promotional video for Clickable TV is embedded above.)