vetrya

Civolution and Vetrya enable the innovative Italian TV channel to engage its viewers with compelling 2nd screen app

Eindhoven, The Netherlands, and Rome, Italy April 23rd 2013 - Civolution, the leading provider of technology and solutions for identifying, managing and monetizing content, and Vetrya, a leading Italian company  in the supply of multiscreen platforms, media asset management, broadband services, app developer and solutions for the digital media world, today announce that La3, the social media channel broadcast on Sky (channel 143) and FTA DTT (channel 134), tablets, smartphones and the internet, has selected both companies to enhance its HyperSync application.

The Civolution-Vetrya partnership enables La3 to drive user engagement and loyalty through the delivery of a customized app which presents viewers with synchronized content on a wide array of connected devices.  

“Viewers want to watch TV and interact with their favourite content on tablets and smartphones, without being restricted by a TV schedule,” said Fabio Rimassa, TV Director, La3. “It’s a priority for us to satisfy our viewers demand for high quality content, anywhere and anytime. We’re excited to provide our audience with this fantastic app, offering them an original way to engage with their favourite programs. We are very pleased with the collaboration between Civolution and Vetrya which has turbo-charged our HyperSync app. We hope our viewers will enjoy the new interactive opportunities it provides.”

The new HyperSync app (free to download in the iTunes store) has been developed by Vetrya and is powered by Civolution’s audio watermarking technology, SyncNow®, which enables real-time identification and frame accurate synchronization between broadcast, on-demand or recorded television content and interactive applications on companion devices (tablets, smart phones, laptops) to present 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. The app will be accurately synchronized for multiple ‘formats’ transmitted on DTT, DTH and the web.

”The growing use of tablets and smartphones coupled with application and sync technologies have opened up new avenues for TV programming and product advertising” said Jean-Michel Masson, SVP Watermarking Solutions, Civolution. “We are very excited about our partnership with Vetrya. Together we have demonstrated just how simple and cost effective it can be to deliver a profitable and compelling second screen app which is a market-proven avenue to engage viewers online. Our content synchronization solution creates a winning multiscreen strategy that enables operators and content owners to extend their services, better monetize their assets and deepen advertiser engagement across devices.”

The SyncNow technology enhances Hypersync’s most popular features such as behind-the-scenes extra information on the programs or characters by ensuring that the app is synced with the TV programming. SyncNow will also ensure that Vetrya’s upgraded platform structure for the app, which supports exciting new features such as gamification, will also be synchronized with La3’s content.

“Viewers are now getting serious about second screen apps, and the exclusive content available on these apps is gaining huge traction. TV viewers are no longer just watching, they are now becoming a part of the mix” said Luca Tomassini, founder and CEO Vetrya. “Such strategic integration offers viewers a way to connect with content for their favorite shows like never before, as well as connecting and playing with other fans. We can now offer consumers a more enriched, customized viewing experience.  This is a great step forward.”

About Civolution:
Civolution ( www.civolution.com) is the leading provider of technology and solutions to identify, manage and monetize media content. The company offers an extensive portfolio of cutting edge digital watermarking and fingerprinting applications for media interaction (accurate and real-time video synchronization for 2nd screen and smart TVs), media intelligence (audience measurement and media monitoring for television, radio and internet) and media protection (content filtering and forensic marking of media assets in pre-release, digital cinema, payTV and online). Follow us on Twitter: @Civolution.

About Vetrya:
Vetrya (www.vetrya.com ) is an Italian company leader in the supply of multiscreen platforms, media asset management and broadband services. It develops services, applications and platforms for OTT and digital media. It operates on media markets, telecommunications, broadband, products, outsourcing and content management - with functional skills of projects development, value-added services, converged platforms and applications on any type of broadband devices. Through two centers of competence “content media & entertainment” and “multimedia broadband innovation center”. Vetrya accompanies its customers toward the new digital era, simplifying the management of all activities of new distribution channels, reducing costs and developing the efficiency to manage the distribution of content through multiple channels: connect tv, smartphone, tablet, web, OTT box. Twitter: @vetrya

About La3:
La3 is a channel always on, available anytime and anywhere. It is a channel “show & share” with a social schedule and with many leading players of the web and stars of the network. Everyone can actively participate through our social networks.
La3 is broadcast on channel 143 of Sky, channel 134 of FTA DTT, streaming on the app for smartphones and tablets, on the website and in the bouquet PrimoItalia available for Samsung Smart TV.

By Luca Tomassini, Founder and CEO, Vetrya (www.vetrya.com)

THE RAPID growth of multiscreen viewing via web-connected devices such as the smart TV, smartphone, tablet and game console is introducing internet DNA to the classical, linear TV model. The fusion of the two worlds-broadcast and broadband-in this redesigning of the television ecosystem demands that new technologies be implemented by the sector operator. Advertising tools based on user interactive services on accompanying devices, all interconnected within this news TV ecosystem.

Telecommunication networks will see progressive increases in the use of multimedia content delivery for videos and television content across both mobile and traditional methods. Cloud-based platforms, such as our Eclexia platform, will be needed to allow media companies, editors, telecommunication operators and companies in the media and entertainment sectors to produce, manage and distribute video experiences with social character in a multiscreen fashion that supports smartphone, tablet, smart TV, web, game console, and digital set-top box distribution.

We at Vetrya strive to enable our clients to augment the TV experience, from second-screen interaction to social TV integration. Partnerships with technology providers such as Civolution allow companies like ours to enable interaction between TV content, advertisements, and connected devices. In doing so, we can play our part in forming an ecosystem of television services that allows for new interactive experiences such as couch commerce and social network integration, all synchronised with the content that the user is watching-live or on demand.

The video-distribution-over-IP market and, accordingly, internet TV and interactive TV services are rapidly growing. Despite the unsure economic market, the interactive TV space will reach 2 billion Euros in 2015. Revenues from over-the-top TV (connected TV) will reach the 1,9 billion mark in 2015 and we will be there, along with our friends and partners, reprogramming the television genome, and helping the TV industry at large make this evolutionary transition.