Hulu and SeeSaw rival secures Five content
Five has given TV.com its first major European long-form content deal, making more than 250 hours of full-length programmes available to the CBS Interactive-owned, video-on-demand site. As part of the deal, TV.com will show a host of Five’s popular series, including ‘Neighbours’, ‘Home and Away’ and ‘The Gadget Show’. Under the terms of the deal, programmes available on Five’s catch-up TV service, Demand... [Read More...]
Online TV site SeeSaw to launch this week
SeeSaw, a new online aggregation service offering a selection of UK broadcasters’ content, will be launched today. So far, SeeSaw has signed content partnership deals with BBC Worldwide, Channel 4, Five and several major independent production companies. However, the company could not ink a deal with ITV. The service has been trialled by 20,000 people during its beta phase. It will go live with over 3,000 hours of content. SeeSaw’s owner... [Read More...]
ITV digital channels may go pay per view
ITV may introduce a pay-per-view service for ITV2, 3 and 4 under new chief executive Adam Crozier, according to a report on Telegraph.co.uk. Sources said ITV will undergo a thorough strategic review which will rule nothing out, including a move away from the free-to-air advertising model to a much broader media platform by increasing its use of on-demand video. The new management team is thought to be looking at ways to improve the production side... [Read More...]
TV and DM marketing work best hand-in-hand
Integrated television and direct marketing campaigns generate greater response rates than using the disciplines individually, according to a study. The study, published by ITV and the Direct Marketing Association, claims that response rates were 143 per cent higher when TV and DM are combined than when used alone; a combination of TV and online improves response rates by 175 per cent. Rupert Howell, managing director of brand and commercial at... [Read More...]
SeeSaw trial to launch tomorrow
SeeSaw, the online TV service born of the remnants of Project Kangaroo, will launch in full at the end of February, following a month’s beta trial starting tomorrow (26 January). The video-on-demand (VoD) service will include content from popular programmes such as ‘That Mitchell & Webb Look’, ‘Doctor Who’, ‘Cranford’, and ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’, following a deal SeeSaw struck with BBC... [Read More...]
TalkTalk and C4 sign up to internet-TV project
Telecoms operator TalkTalk and broadcaster Channel 4 have signed up to a planned scheme for internet-connected TV, called Project Canvas. Project Canvas, a proposed venture that already involves the BBC, ITV, RTL’s Channel Five and BT, would combine the internet with the popular Freeview digital television service, allowing users to download programmes from the internet through their televisions. The BBC said in a statement on Wednesday... [Read More...]
ITV launches first Facebook app
ITV has launched a personalised Facebook app which enables viewers to see when their favourite shows are available online and receive relevant recommendations. The broadcaster’s debut social media app, ITV Favourites, is designed to increase usage of its online TV service ITV Player. ITV Favourites, developed by TV Genius, also allows friends to share favourite shows and compare viewing habits. Viewers are directed to choose shows they like... [Read More...]
Channel 4 and Five sign deals to show content on SeeSaw
Video-on-demand platform SeeSaw has agreed content deals with Channel 4 and Five, in addition to the deal announced with BBC Worldwide. The fledgling platform, which is owned by broadcast services supplier Arqiva, has been visiting media agencies ahead of announcements of the deals in January. Until now, SeeSaw had only signed BBC Worldwide as a content provider. However, it was expected to negotiate with other broadcasters ahead of the launch of... [Read More...]
The X Factor attracts 1.75m Facebook fans
The X Factor has proved a social media success story for ITV, with 1.75m Facebook fans and 59,000 Twitter followers, according to figures released today by the broadcaster and its online content partner, TalkbackThames Digital. Nearly 20m TV viewers tuned in to watch Joe McElderry snatch The X Factor title and a £1m recording contract, cheered on by mentor Cheryl Cole. Social networking shared in the success, with 1.75m fans of the series on... [Read More...]
BT strikes deal with Fox to air 24 on-demand
BT is beefing up its IPTV service BT Vision by securing a deal with Fox to show the first four seasons of 24 on-demand. The 24 deal is part of a multiple rights agreement, through which other hit Fox series Prison Break, The X-Files and Buffy The Vampire Slayer will be available on BT Vision. BT Vision customers can access the Fox programmes as part of BT Vision’s TV Pack. Existing subscribers to the TV Pack will be able to access the... [Read More...]