ConnecTV social TV app in US teams up with TV broadcast groups

Ten leading television broadcast groups in the US with stations in markets covering 76 million US households have announced a long-term commercial partnership with Silicon Valley-based start-up ConnecTV, a free, real-time social network built for TV viewers.

ConnecTV expands the TV experience by allowing viewers to interact with other fans watching the same programme, while providing a broad range of related content and promotional opportunities that are directly synchronized to programs being viewed.

All broadcast partners plan to integrate and synchronise their programming within ConnecTV and promote the new service on-air and on-line. As part of the commercial agreement, the broadcasters will have local advertising inventory appear within ConnecTV to drive programme promotions and deliver innovative campaigns through their local ad sales teams. In addition, a number of the broadcasters have made an undisclosed investment in ConnecTV.

Commenting on the partnership, Alan Frank, president and ceo of Post-Newsweek Stations, one of the broadcasters, said: “From its very beginning, television has always been a big part of the daily American discourse. In this digital era, much of this dialogue now takes place on social media platforms. As local broadcasters, we love that people are talking about our shows. We looked long and hard for a partner that could create a compelling environment that would encourage, enhance and monetize that dialogue, even during live programs including news coverage or sporting events – and we found it at ConnecTV.”

ConnecTV Co-Founder Ian Aaron, adds: “Our mission is for ConnecTV to be the social network that empowers entertainment, news and sports fans to share the greatest moments in television. The team at ConnecTV is thrilled to work with the leaders in local news and television across America as we bring to market an innovative and engaging second-screen experience for all TV viewers that works seamlessly across all programming genres and on all platforms. With over five billion TV viewers and the explosion of tablets and smart phones globally, we are truly at the beginning of a new way to watch TV.”

ConnecTV is available now in an “invitation only” sneak preview, and will be launching to the public in early 2012.