A while back I mentioned in a chat that the next big wave of social media will be integrated with TV, and viola’…. here it is.  The current trend of twitter hastags shown during programming, the amount of streaming tweets during live shows like The X Factor and The Voice (which kicked it up to new heights), as well as being able to tweet or post on Facebook and possibly be included in the social media ticker or mentioned during the program, makes this a no-brainer for developers and trend watchers like me.

Still to come for sure is social media directly on your TV… Im not sure how I personally feel about another thing to look at, but the advertisers wont care – they want the age group that is already engaged and will continue to be no matter how many devices it takes. I wonder if this would be considered multi-multi-channel? Or maybe a new category… mega-channel marketing? 

New television companion says it can socialize TV

A company has an application out that allows viewers of television programming to have a second screen going simultaneously, allowing them to engage in running commentary with other users about the program being watched in real time. In addition to engaging America’s multitaskers, it can enhance advertising value.

The product is called TV Tune-In, and it’s described as an “Audience Engagement Platform.” It comes from Rogue Paper Inc., a subsidiary of East Coast Diversified Corporation.

The platform can be called up on a second screen – computer, notebook, smartphone – and it tracks the user’s time zone and the program currently being watched. That opens up the social media opportunity. Explains Rogue, “Viewers can just plop down on the couch, turn on both screens, and dive into the sea of snarky comments about their favorite shows.  The app allows users to watch live and time-shifted, to enjoy the entire delicious dish in sync with the episode youre watching on your TV or laptop.”

The concept taps into the 40% of consumers identified by Nielsen who use television and other digital devices simultaneously.

Continues at:  New television companion says it can socialize TV – Radio & Television Business Report.

Related articles

• Time for Television Ratings to Get Social (readwriteweb.com)
• How to build a brand with social media and television: lessons from reality TV stars (thecontentlab.icrossing.com)