SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cognitive Networks, a market leading provider of real-time services that power Enhanced TV on Smart TVs, today announced partnerships with interactive content platforms Ensequence and Watchwith. Through partnerships with interactive content platforms, app developers, advertisers, TV manufacturers, and content providers, Cognitive Networks has built out a first-of-its-kind Smart TV ecosystem for Enhanced TV. Working together, these ecosystem-fueling partnerships will allow programmers, service providers and advertisers to drive deeper engagement, increase programming ratings, advertising effectiveness, and provide new ad opportunities across the Smart TV ecosystem.
“In order for Enhanced TV to meaningfully augment the value proposition of Smart TVs, a fully built ecosystem is required to deliver a broad array of advanced applications,” said Michael Collette, CEO of Cognitive Networks. “The collaboration between manufacturers, content providers, app developers, interactive content creation and distribution platforms, and advertisers means that Enhanced TV will be widely available through a variety of content, commerce and advertising. The development of the Smart TV ecosystem for Enhanced TVs is a step in the right direction to support the accelerating adoption of Smart TVs in 2014.”
Cognitive Networks’ partnerships with Ensequence and Watchwith combines with two additional Cognitive Networks’ announcements also made today, that further build out the Company’s Smart TV ecosystem for Enhanced TV. The additional partnerships add to Cognitive Networks’ relationships with leading TV manufacturers and content providers, establishing a complete Smart TV ecosystem to deliver Enhanced TV capabilities. Cognitive Networks’ Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) technology enables the delivery of a robust Enhanced TV experience for TV viewers, enabling contextually-related content to be displayed on Smart TVs in synchronization with its related television programming, enriching the viewing experience through engaging viewing capabilities. Enhanced TV is the ability for viewers to receive increased engagement and interactions with TV content through their Smart TV.
“At Ensequence, our primary focus is to enable the seamless scaling of interactive programming & advertising across the majority of U.S. households, via close working relationships with all Smart TV and traditional distribution platforms. Close collaboration of key participants in the Smart TV ecosystem will drive increased business value while also enhancing the TV viewer experience,” said Peter Low, president and CEO of Ensequence.
“Cognitive Networks integration with TV OEMs enables new user experiences on ACR powered TVs,” said Zane Vella, CEO of Watchwith. “Through this partnership, Watchwith customers can now syndicate enhanced content experiences to appear on Cognitive enabled TVs at exactly the right moment. We are pleased to partner with Cognitive and to help grow the Smart TV ecosystem For Enhanced TV.”
A key part of this rapidly emerging ecosystem is Cognitive Networks’ ENGAGE™ API which allows application providers to launch opt-in based applications which are intelligently synchronized with live or time-shifted television. The integrated Smart TV delivers to consumers the features and capabilities they want to enhance their viewing experience. The company’s addressable service delivery enables advertisers to customize interactions and gives content producers and networks the ability to expand viewership, watch-time, and push deeper engagement.
Cognitive Networks Smart TV ecosystem for Enhanced TV will be on display at the International CES taking place in Las Vegas, January 7-10, 2014. Demonstrations by ecosystem partners will take place at the Cognitive Networks booth #80309 in the Gold Pavilion in front of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). A demo list will be released just prior to the show. For a list of demos or to schedule a meeting with Michael Collette of Cognitive Networks, please contact MartaWeissenborn@McgrathPower.com.
About Cognitive Networks
Cognitive Networks is a leading provider of real-time services powered by Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) technology, enabling the fundamental transformation of the way viewers consume TV while delivering a platform for content producers and TV networks to increase customer engagement, grow their audiences, and increase the value of the TV viewing experience for all audiences.
The company’s ENGAGE™ API allows Smart TVs to launch applications that are intelligently synchronized with live or time-shifted television, enabling ecosystem partners to add Enhanced TV capabilities to broadcast TV displaying on Smart TVs. With Cognitive Networks’ Engage, content providers can now provide consumers with fun, smart things to do while watching TV on their Smart TVs. For more information about Cognitive Networks, visit www.cognitivenetworks.com.
About Ensequence
Ensequence, Inc. provides a suite of advanced products that allow programmers, service providers and advertisers to drive deeper engagement, increases in programming ratings, advertising effectiveness and new ad opportunities across cable, satellite, telco and connected devices. Ensequence’s customers include the largest and most innovative programmers and service providers in the media industry: NBCUniversal, Viacom Media Networks, Showtime Networks, Turner Broadcasting, HBO, QVC, WE tv, MSG, Fuse, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, DISH Network and Verizon. In addition, Ensequence is deployed on multiple connected device platforms. Ensequence’s lead investor is Myrian Capital (www.myriancapital.com), a growth capital management firm with investments in video communications, mobile media and advanced advertising solutions. Ensequence and AdConneqt+ are trademarks of Ensequence, Inc. To learn more, visit www.ensequence.com and follow Ensequence on Twitter.
About Watchwith
Watchwith provides a hosted software platform for television networks to create, schedule and deliver perfectly timed interactive content, advertising and commerce offers in sync with their shows and commercials to consumers on any connected device. Television creators and producers use Watchwith Showrunner™ to efficiently author original sync-to-broadcast content. The Watchwith Real-Time API™ delivers sync-to-broadcast content events, one-click commerce, and contextual advertising around live and pre-recorded programming and commercials. Watchwith customers include Bravo, Fox, NBC, Syfy, Telemundo and USA Network. Watchwith is headquartered in San Francisco, California and the company’s investors include Rogers Venture Partners, Samsung, and Sony. To learn more about Watchwith’s sync-to-broadcast content management and syndication solutions for television programmers and advertisers, please visit watchwith.com.
