SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NBCUniversal's Syfy is now using Watchwith to extend the reach of their award-winning Syfy Sync digital product to the next generation of connected TVs. NBCUniversal has selected LG as their premiere launch partner and Watchwith as their interactive content platform for Advanced TV. As part of the partnership, Syfy Sync is now available on LG Smart TVs during broadcasts of Syfy’s original series Defiance, Fridays at 8/7c and on VOD.
Syfy producers use the Watchwith Showrunner™ tool to author perfectly timed in-program content that appears as an interactive overlay on the LG Smart TV. While enjoying the show, viewers can use their TV remote control to seamlessly dive deeper into the Defiance backstory, learn more about Defiance characters and participate in audience polls – all without interrupting the program. Behind the scenes, the LG Smart TV uses ACR (automatic content recognition) from Cognitive Networks to identify the specific episode of Defiance and launch the Watchwith Televised HTML5 application.
Watchwith also enables Syfy to leverage the same creative and production workflows the network has developed to support their award-winning Syfy Sync native companion experience on mobile platforms, but now with the added reach of live linear and VOD viewers on LG Smart TVs.
In making the announcement, Matthew Chiavelli, Vice President, Digital Media & Strategy, said, “Watchwith has been a key partner in our Syfy Sync product development from the beginning. We're happy to be working with them to bring it to yet another platform.”
“The launch of Watchwith Televised for Syfy on LG TVs delivers on our promise to Syfy to engage their audience wherever and however they enjoy Syfy programming,” said Watchwith CEO, Zane Vella. “The living room TV remains a key part of the digital strategy.”
For more details about Watchwith Televised:
www.watchwith.com/televised
For more details about Syfy Sync:
www.syfy.com/apps/syfy-sync
About Watchwith:
Watchwith enables TV networks and premium video publishers to create in-program interactive experiences for viewers. These in-program experiences unlock entirely new advertising inventory and sponsorship opportunities while driving incremental revenue beyond today's interstitial commercials and dynamic ad insertion. Watchwith’s SaaS platform makes it simple to create perfectly timed sponsored interactive engagement and valuable new in-program advertising across virtually any connected device. Watchwith is headquartered in San Francisco, California and investors include Rogers Venture Partners, Samsung and ARRIS Group. For more information about Watchwith, visit watchwith.com.
About Syfy:
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 96 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. (Syfy. Imagine Greater.)
