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.
