ITV is to use the social networking site Facebook to help viewers find new content on its ITV Player catch-up TV service. The commercial broadcaster has adopted the Content Discovery Platform developed by TV Genius to power a personalized recommendation feature.
The application will help promote the Christmas and New Year schedule, providing recommendations of content available on the ITV Player, and set reminders of relevant upcoming shows. Recommendations can be shared and compared with friends.
“We have a fantastic schedule of programming during the festive period and moving forward into 2010. The launch of the ITV Player Facebook app provides an ideal way for viewers to ensure they don’t miss their favourite shows, as well as share recommendations with friends,” said Stuart Roberts, head of site at ITV.com. “We’re excited about the app and are pleased to have worked with TV Genius to deliver ITV content to viewers via Facebook.”
It is the first time that ITV has built a social recommendation engine for its site. The service enables users to rate ITV programming according to their preferences, which then analyses the results to offer true relevance to recommendation results, powered by TV Genius’ Content Discovery Platform.
“The launch of the ITV Player app makes TV viewing a more social experience that lets users share programmes with each other and recommend content that they think their friends will like,” said Tom Weiss, CEO, TV Genius. “ITV’s leading programmes have really got people talking this year and this app provides a platform to really enhance this social aspect of TV.”
Other broadcasters are looking at developing social media, including the BBC, which has launched an application based around the popular Strictly Come Dancing.
About Julian Clover
"In an industry that experiences rapid change and often a confusing subsequent
constant supply of news, it is often refreshing to read an insightful perspective. Broadband
TV News and its editorial team regularly provide a context and
helpful analysis to breaking news.”
Broadband TV News is the must-read publication for those working in the Business of the Multiscreen Television. We deliver news, insight and data direct to your desktop. As well as our constantly updated website you can sign-up to our Daily and Weekly email bulletins. 
Connected TV Forecasts NEW REPORT. The number of TV sets connected to the Internet will reach 551 million by 2016 for the 40 countries covered in this report from Digital TV Research, up from 124 million at end-2010. The report states that this translates to 20% of global TV sets by 2016, up from only 6% at end-2010. Published in November 2011, this 83-page PDF report is the most geographically comprehensive to ever be published.