Civolution has announced that the French media group Lagardère Active is using Civolution’s SyncNow ACR technology to power an interactive app for its free-to-air family TV channel, Gulli.
The app which is initially for use during the advertisement breaks will then be extended for use on the programmes themselves. It will enhance the advertisements by enabling interactions such as games and original content about products. Once extended for use with some programmes, the app will give users the chance to engage in games which relate directly to the content being aired on the main screen. Users will be able to take advantage of the new services on both smartphones and tablets.
“For the new generation of television viewers TV is no longer a lean-back experience. It is socially engaging entertainment,” said Antoine Villeneuve, CEO of Lagardère Active’s French and international TV channels, in a statement. “We now have the opportunity to interact directly with our audience in ways that are much more personal and intimate. Civolution’s SyncNow is exactly the type of technology needed to achieve this and go beyond simple linear.”
The app will be driven by Civolution’s audio watermarking technology, SyncNow for 2nd Screen, which enables real-time identification and frame accurate synchronisation between broadcast, on-demand or recorded television content and interactive applications on companion devices (tablets, smart phones, laptops) to present compelling synchronized interactive user experiences including auto-check-in. The technology relies on imperceptible audio watermarks that can be embedded in live stream or as in the case of this project, in file content before playout.
“We’ve designed SyncNow to give broadcasters a more powerful interactive alternative to traditional red button type functionality,” said Jean-Michel Masson, SVP watermarking solutions, Civolution. “With our ACR technology, broadcasters can give their viewers a range of interactive services across all types of programming without being restricted on whether it’s live or on the PVR. We’re really excited that Lagardère Active has chosen our technology for use in its app and we hope that its viewers are wowed by the new services they can now access.”
