TeraVolt, OTT development partner of ZDF, has developed the Zapping Player as a new HbbTV-based feature on the public broadcaster’s catch-up service ZDFmediathek.
The Zapping Player enables viewers to discover further and new content on the big screen with functionalities previously only integrated on social media platforms.
The content swipe function is intended to appeal to younger target groups who are used to scrolling through content feeds on social media platforms: It’s always a surprise which content is suggested next. This makes it possible to constantly discover new content.
The Zapping Player is integrated as an overlay above the Video Player and can be controlled with the remote control of the smart TV. This allows viewers to quickly switch back and forth between different content.
In comparison to classic navigation via teaser tiles, where it is often not clear which content is behind them, viewers directly access the currently running programme and thus get a better and quicker feeling of what kind of content it is, according to TeraVolt.