KIRO 7 to roll out social TV experience in Seattle

SEATTLE — ConnecTV announced Tuesday a partnership with KIRO 7 and Cox Media Group to roll out the largest-ever social media platform for television.

ConnecTV harmonizes social engagement, complementary content and program promotions with television programming across the nation.

Some of the basics on how ConnecTV works:

• A social network that works across all channels and all shows for both real-time and time-shifted television viewing.
• Delivers a rich content experience that syncs instantly with the show you're watching and delivers complementary play-by-play stats, news, information and quotes that can be shared with friends and followers—all with a single touch.
• Viewers can also invite specific friends to join them for "viewing parties" and chat about their favorite shows and sporting events.
• Seamless integration with Twitter and Facebook allows users to connect and organize their friends, favorite shows and social engagement all focused on TV.
• Uses a combination of content recognition algorithms, closed caption and a diverse mix of more than 100 data sources to drive the accuracy, relevancy and speed of synchronization with television programming.

ConnecTV is available as a free download for the iPad from the Apple App Store, or for any PC browser at www.connectv.com/kiro7.  ConnecTV will be introducing versions for the iPhone and Android smartphone and tablets in the next 45 days.

"Local engagement is at the heart of all social media, from Twitter to Facebook to Groupon," said ConnecTV Co-Founder Ian Aaron.  "ConnecTV is the only social TV network with a true investment in the local viewing experience and an unparalleled strategic partnership with the leading media companies in America."

Viewers of ConnecTV on partner stations beginning with the top 40 markets will immediately receive additional social television benefits that include synchronization of local news, weather, sports and entertainment programming along with social polls. 

ConnecTV partners include a consortium of nine leading U.S. television broadcast groups known as Pearl.  The companies include: Belo Corp., Cox Media Group, E.W. Scripps Co., Gannett Broadcasting, Hearst Television Inc., Media General Inc., Meredith Corp., Post-Newsweek Stations Inc. and Raycom Media. 

While all ConnecTV users will enjoy an extraordinary viewing experience, TV fans who watch along with ConnecTV's local partner stations will have the advantage of heightened benefits, including:

• Social conversations sparked locally by on-air personalities and station production staff surrounding news, sports and entertainment topics of the day.
• Special companion content that is synced to local broadcast news, sports and entertainment programming.
• ConnecTV instant "TalkBack" social polls mirroring those on the air to increase communication with local audiences.
• Relevant local marketing that is synched to television advertising spots, or engages the "viewser" in new ways that activate both national and local marketing campaigns.
• Simultaneous promotions of upcoming news stories, local specials and national programming on both the main and second screens.

KIRO