COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TV Talk Network LLC today announced the launch of TVtalk, a digital broadcast network that produces individual post-airing discussion podcasts about the country’s most watched TV shows, in a predictable 20-minute format. With the launch, TVtalk becomes the world’s largest single producer of podcast content, with more than 60 individual shows being made available each week.
Each expert-hosted TVtalk program is designed to give fans a reliable way to feed their appetite for information around the TV shows they enjoy, and help TV networks reduce viewer attrition by keeping those fans more deeply engaged on an ongoing basis. TVtalk podcasts are produced and published within hours after each new TV episode airs, and are available for listeners by 3:00 AM ET, in plenty of time for morning commutes.
“As television shows continue to embrace and use social media to further viewer engagement, the second screen has become an essential part of the television fan experience,” said Stuart Crane, founder and CEO, TVtalk. “But given the immediacy of Twitter and Facebook, they almost exclusively drive the discussion during the air time of any given TV show. TVtalk helps to keep fans engaged in between airings.”
How TVtalk works:
For hosts and the industry
- Fresh content. As soon as a new episode of a television show airs, the TVtalk hosts take to their microphones and record the content of their associated TVtalk program, based on the events that transpired in that episode.
- Production. The recorded content is submitted to TVtalk Central for editing.
- Timeliness. By 3:00 AM ET the fully produced TVtalk program is uploaded and available to fans for immediate listening.
- Seamlessness. For users of the TVtalk app on iPhone and Android platforms, their favorite content is automatically pushed to their devices, making listening to TVtalk a seamless and predictable process.
- Engagement. Television fans – even those who missed last night’s episode – remain engaged and fully updated with unique host insights, and giving them an edge during water cooler discussions.
- Reduced attrition. TVtalk cuts away at viewer attrition by ensuring every opportunity for television fans to maintain interest and stick with the show.
For fans
- Fandom personified. Television fans love discussing their favorite shows – everything from character motivation to special effects. TVtalk gives them hosts whose opinions and insights matter through a channel that’s easy to access.
- Timeliness. In between the time they went to bed after their show aired and the time they woke up for their commute to work, a fully produced TVtalk program about last night’s episode was made available.
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Talkback. The unique TVtalk “Talkback” feature allows fans to
engage with TVtalk’s hosts in a way never before possible.
- Question of the Week: On each TVtalk program, the host poses a “Talkback Question of the Week.” Fans using the mobile app or the TVtalk website can instantly record and submit their audio answers by pressing the “Talkback” button.
- Comments: Fans also are encouraged to provide feedback and thoughts on any show-related topic by using the “Talkback” button.
“Talkback” comments are streamed following the episode, and in some cases may be called upon by hosts in the following week’s TVtalk program.
- Share to Win. Fans are encouraged to share TVtalk programs via their social networks. Upon sharing, fans are entered into contests to win prizes, including AppleTV, Roku Boxes and Logitech home theater equipment.
Shows and hosts:
TVtalk will publish at least 1,000 individual podcasts during the fall TV season. Virtually every single TV watcher in the country will have free access to a high quality, professionally produced podcast about his or her favorite show.
Each TVtalk podcast covering an associated television show has hosts with relevant opinions, insider information and unique perspectives. For example, some hosts include:
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Roberta “R.C.” Saint-Amour and Artis Silvester (TVtalk
Survivor)
Saint-Amour and Silvester were famously dueling contestants on Survivor: Philippines (S25). Saint-Amour also was slated to be a contestant on the current season of Survivor. They will provide context and insights into the show nobody else can offer.
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Mark “Abba” Abbattista and Mona Egender (TVtalk
The Amazing Race)
Abbattista and Egender both were contestants on The Amazing Race. They understand the ins and outs of the game, and will use their experiences to give fans an inside track on what’s happening in front of and behind the camera. -
Greg Hutson and Stephanie Beaver (TVtalk
Lucky 7)
Hutson is host of The American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the GAC Daily Countdown, and is a featured host on local CBS, NBC and FOX affiliates nationwide. In addition, he is a regular entertainment contributor for “Good Day Orlando” on FOX 35. Beaver is a TV junkie and experienced podcaster. Both hosts offer expert commentary and insights into storyline and production.
The full list of TVtalk shows, both current and off-air, and hosts can be found at www.tvtalk.com/shows.
“As a former contestant on The Amazing Race, I had the first-hand opportunity to race other teams around the world. I saw the world in a way few ever have; I raced other teams for flights in exotic airports; I checked in on the mat with Phil,” said Mark “Abba” Abbattista. “Hosting TVtalk The Amazing Race lets me share that experience with fans of the show, and allows me to offer my perspective on what’s really happening.”
Podcasts can be listened to via the free TVtalk app for iPhone and Android, through iTunes or any RSS-based podcast app, or directly through the TVtalk website at www.tvtalk.com.
About TVtalk
TVtalk is the world’s largest podcast network, producing on-demand talk shows for more than 60 of the most popular television programs, delivering quality entertainment directly to smartphones, tablets, PCs and in-car entertainment systems. These 20-minute shows are available the very next morning after new TV episodes are aired; just in time for the morning commute. TVtalk shows can be listened to at any time, using a free custom app for iPhone and Android, via the TVtalk website at www.tvtalk.com, iTunes, or any other podcast application.
Going well beyond traditional podcasts and talk shows, TVtalk allows users of the app to record and submit their own “Talkback Clips” about their favorite shows, with the chance of being included in the following week’s TVtalk show. Talkback clips can be shared on Facebook and Twitter, giving users a voice about their favorite TV shows.
