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Tag: Eric Berger

  • SPT Networks unveils second screen app to accompany ‘Hannibal‘

    SPT Networks unveils second screen app to accompany ‘Hannibal‘

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks has unveiled a customised second screen viewing app to accompany the premiere of their hotly anticipated drama, ‘Hannibal’, which it co-commissioned for its global portfolio of channels.

    Developed by SPT Networks’ digital arm, the ‘Hannibal’ app will initially be made available in local languages to accompany the series on AXN channels serving pan Asia Spanish-speaking Latin America, Brazil, Spain and Portugal. It will be the first scripted second screen app in several territories.

    SPT’s second screen ‘Hannibal’ app will synchronise to each episode as it airs live, and also use audio watermarking technology that will trigger it to synchronise during any DVR and VOD playback. The app will be available through iTunes for all iOS mobile phones and tablets to accompany international premieres on AXN channels.

    Users will be able to access exclusive ‘Hannibal’ content, learn more about characters, watch relationships unfold, and access behind-the-scenes footage. Integrated social media elements will enable viewers to interact directly with the show and other fans in a hosted ‘Hannibal’ community.

    SPT executive VP – Digital Networks – Eric Berger said, “SPT’s second screen Hannibal app will be a first for drama series in many markets, breaking new ground for pay TV. ‘Hannibal’ is bursting with additional material and storylines that enrich the viewer experience through this app and which, thanks to the technology now available, we can synchronise live to any schedule, anytime.”

    SPT Executive VP Programming and Production Networks Marie Jacobson said, “‘Hannibal’ is tailor-made for this kind of real-time digital experience. We feel strongly the deep mythology and intricate character weaves of our series will drive core fans of the genre to seek out our app and engage at new levels.

  • Crackle signs on to comScore’s all-platform measurement service

    MUMBAI: Crackle, Sony Picture Television‘s free ad-supported video streaming service, has partnered comScore to launch a first-of-its-kind all-platform audience measurement deal.

    This initiative will leverage comScore‘s audience measurement techniques to produce unduplicated audience size and demographics across the entire Crackle entertainment network, which includes all screens and platforms – online, mobile/tablet, connected TV and game consoles.

    Data will be available during the second quarter and Crackle will be the first in the industry to use this methodology to provide advertisers with comScore video audience measurement for all of its devices and 20+ apps.

    comScore said that its proprietary methods leverage census-level media measurement that produces audience samples numbering in the millions, far surpassing traditional TV audience counting methods.

    In addition, this census-level reporting – which provides enough common touch points between each platform to determine cross-platform overlap – serves as the basis for comScore‘s multi-platform audience de-duplication techniques.

    “Before this new capability, there had been no audience measurement of connected TV and game consoles, so publishers and networks could not provide an unduplicated audience number,” said Sony Pictures Television executive vice president, digital and Crackle GM Eric Berger.

    “With the help of comScore and their revolutionary approach, we can now provide advertisers with measurement that includes the audience size and demographics across all of Crackle.”

    “Our development of this multi-platform attribution technique cracked the code for determining a single unified audience number across platforms, and we designed it with the knowledge that it could theoretically scale to accommodate the growing number of media channels today,” said comScore President of Commercial Solutions Serge Matta.

  • Online retail firm Thumbplay partners with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

    Online retail firm Thumbplay partners with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

    MUMBAI: Thumbplay an online retailer of mobile entertainment content in the US has announced an agreement with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) to distribute products from Sony’s film and television portfolio.

    Thumbplay is the first direct-to-consumer mobile company to offer SPHE’s premium content. Thumbplay members will now have direct access to content from SPHE’s entire mobile content catalogue, which includes content from feature films like Open Season and Spider-Man 3 to television shows such as Jeopardy, Days of Our Lives and The Boondocks.

    Thumbplay founder and CEO Are Traasdahl says, “Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has been a leader in the arena of digital entertainment. Our partnership with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment allows us to deliver an extensive selection of exciting mobile entertainment to our members, who can now enjoy Sony’s premium catalog of motion pictures and television shows.”

    Thumbplay members will have direct access to games, ringtones and wallpapers from SPHE’s extensive mobile catalog. Highlights include content from upcoming and past releases.

    Thumbplay’s catalogue also includes Sony’s diverse television content such as 80s hits like Different Strokes and What’s Happening; daytime dramas like Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless and game shows such as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.

    SPHE president mobile entertainment Eric Berger says, “We are thrilled to bring a personalized mobile experience to wireless consumers of all ages with our diverse content. Thumbplay’s success in the direct-to-consumer mobile market represents an excellent platform to further expand SPHE’s vision of making entertainment accessible to consumers whenever, wherever and however they want.”

    Thumbplay currently offers more than 50,000 pieces of mobile entertainment content, including ringtones, wallpapers, games and text-based services. Members can purchase content as part of the Thumbplay subscription plan or on à la carte basis.

    Movie lovers can enjoy Open Season right on their mobile phone through a large selection of content featuring original voicetones from the cast, ringtones and wallpapers from the first animated film from Sony Pictures Animation.