Interactive TV News Round-Up (VI): Shazam, Verizon, Redbox

Because the [itvt] editorial team has been working on The TV of Tomorrow Show 2012, we are covering stories in this issue in round-up/summary format.

•   On Sunday, automatic content recognition (ACR) specialist, Shazam, enabled a range of interactive enhancements to advertisements that ran during the Super Bowl, to the Super Bowl halftime show, and to the Super Bowl telecast itself, via its Shazam for TV app (note: for a review of the enhancements, complete with videos, see the iTV Doctor's most recent column). "1) Advertising: Almost half of the Super Bowl TV advertisers will be Shazam-enabled with several Fortune 100 brands choosing Shazam to add interactivity to their ads or sponsor key game elements," the company states in its press materials. "When people use Shazam to tag ads from the following brands, they will unlock exciting offers and content. Shazam-enabled ads include: a) Toyota--the ad will include a sweepstake to win two Camrys--one for you and one for a friend. b) Best Buy--Best Buy's spot will feature two of Shazam's founders. Additionally, Best Buy is running a $50 gift card offer for consumers looking to buy and activate a mobile phone in 2012. c) Cars.com--when viewers use Shazam to tag the ad, Cars.com will donate $1.00 to one of seven charities, up to a maximum $100,000. d) Pepsi--the new ad that features the winner of the 'X Factor'--Melanie Amaro performing Otis Redding's song 'Respect'--will invite people to unlock a free video. e) Teleflora--viewers who tag Teleflora's 'Give' ad starring super model Adriana Lima will receive a secret offer. Plus, a number of other commercials including GE, Relativity's new Navy SEAL's action-thriller, 'Act of Valor' and Disney's upcoming movie 'John Carter' will be Shazam-enabled providing great offers and more. 2) Halftime Show: Through a partnership with Bud Light, this year's Bridgestone Super Bowl Halftime show will be Shazam-enabled. When people use Shazam to tag the performance, they can unlock exclusive content and experience more by the Interscope artists performing. 3) The Game: Whether people are fans of the Patriots or the Giants, Shazam has made it easy for them to get more involved in the Super Bowl. When viewers use Shazam during the game, they can: a) Access up-to-the-minute statistics to keep track of all the key plays and players. b) Participate in polls about the game and ads with other fans. c) Share their experience with their friends on Facebook and Twitter. d) Conveniently purchase merchandise including hats to jerseys and much more from Shazam's mobile store." According to Shazam, its Super Bowl offerings "drove record engagement during the event" and resulted in "millions" of interactions. The company says that it will also be enabling ACR-powered interactivity for this Sunday's Grammy Awards telecast on CBS.
• Verizon and Coinstar (the company behind Redbox) announced Monday that they are forming a joint venture that will combine Redbox's kiosk-based DVD and Blu-ray Disc rental service with a new streaming and download service from Verizon. "The joint venture plans to introduce the product portfolio in the second half of 2012," the companies state in their press materials. "It will offer subscription services and more in an easy-to-use, flexible and affordable service that will allow all consumers across the US to enjoy the new and popular entertainment they want, whenever they choose, using the media and devices they prefer. Additional brand and product information will be revealed in the coming months...This venture between Verizon and Redbox will create the kind of national multiplatform product that customers are demanding from video entertainment service providers. It will leverage Verizon's industry-wide relationships with entertainment content providers, its advanced cloud computing technologies and state-of-the-art IP network infrastructure to distribute video-on-demand content to its customers...By offering instantly available online and mobile content with immediate access to physical media through rental kiosks, Verizon and Redbox will be uniquely positioned to deliver the best of both worlds--digital and physical--to consumers across the country. The joint venture is a limited liability company with Verizon holding a 65 percent ownership share and Redbox holding a 35 percent ownership share at the outset."