The industry’s drive to provide content to multiple screens in consumers’ homes continues, as well as more discussions about the convergence of TV and social media. Network DVRs were a focus in the news this week, with a post from this very blog driving media coverage in FierceCable.
Also, research firm In-Stat recently released findings that show half of tablet owners view TV on their smartphones and tablets and 50 percent of young adults frequently use their devices to update social networks while watching TV. Social TV startup Miso partnered with DirecTV to create a synchronized platform where users can “check-in” to their favorite TV shows, much like Motorola’s Social TV offering. Several other articles discussed the prevalence of Twitter usage while watching TV, including news of a Twitter world record set on Sunday during the MTV Video Music Awards due to Beyonce’s baby bump. Do you Tweet or update Facebook while watching TV? What types of actions inspire you to post?
1. Motorola: Most U.S. MSOs pursuing network DVR launches (Aug. 26) – By Steve Donohue, FierceCable: Most U.S. cable MSOs will launch network-based DVRs within the next 18 to 24 months, according to top cable gear vendor Motorola Mobility.
2. 50% of tablet owners view movies and TV (Aug. 31) – By Staff Writer, Advanced Television: In-Stat research reports that 50 per cent of tablet owners are viewing not only feature-length movies on their device, but TV shows as well; an important revelation to both content producers and providers alike.
3. Social TV Plugs In To DirecTV (Sept. 1) – By Anthony Ha, AdWeek: Social TV startup Miso wants to know what you’re watching—and it may have found the perfect way to find out, through a just-announced partnership with DirecTV.
4. Social TV Summit Spotlights the Masterminds Encouraging You to Surf the Web While Watching TV (Sept. 1) – By Ali Trachta, LA Weekly: If you watched any of NBC’s The Voice, you know it was almost impossible to simply watch the show. There was always something on your TV screen cuing you to Twitter — or vice versa. It was as if one didn’t completely function without the other.
5. Social TV by the Numbers: VMAs Edition (Aug. 30) – By Christina Warren, Mashable: The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) broke records on both MTV and Twitter. At 10:35 p.m. ET, Beyonce’s live performance and baby bump reveal generated 8,868 tweets per second.
