Yahoo!® Demonstrates the Future of Television With Leading TV Networks and Advertisers at CES
Introduces innovative broadcast interactivity feature, mobile
device connectivity, and new TV apps on Yahoo! Connected TV
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) today announced that it is introducing an
innovative consumer experience for TV, called broadcast interactivity,
on its Yahoo!
Connected TV platform, which brings Internet-enhanced television to
millions of consumers across the world's most popular TV brands. The new
feature is slated to launch with select national broadcast and cable TV
leaders and top brand advertisers. Yahoo! is collaborating with ABC,
CBS, HSN, and Showtime on content for a pilot program in the first half
of 2011, and will showcase examples of the broadcast interactivity
feature at CES (Booth #36201, South Hall 4, LVCC). Brand advertisers
Ford, Mattel and Microsoft are also planning to work with Yahoo! to
deliver interactivity with their TV advertising.
Broadcast interactivity is a feature of the Yahoo! Connected TV platform that syncs the broadcast signal with the TV App experience, bringing real-time interaction to your favorite TV shows and brands. (Photo: Business Wire)
"Our collaboration with leaders in television and brand advertising,
combined with the innovative technologies we're pioneering, signals the
beginning of a new era of highly personalized, Internet-enhanced
television," said Ron Jacoby, vice president, Yahoo! Connected TV.
"Imagine an immersive, real-time TV experience that brings people even
closer to the programs and brands they love by enabling them to play
along while they watch their favorite shows."
With broadcast interactivity, TV programmers will be able to create TV
apps that let viewers vote for a reality-TV participant, get more
information about characters, or make e-commerce purchases while
watching a show. For brand advertisers, broadcast interactivity will let
them connect in real time with TV viewers during commercials or other
branded entertainment experiences. Examples of broadcast interactivity
could include:
-
CBS — Viewers of "Hawaii Five-O" could view fun facts about the
show and learn more about the actors, characters, and setting by using
their remote controls.
-
ABC — Viewers of an ABC primetime show could
access actor information and view photos and videos during certain
scenes right from their TVs while watching the show.
-
Showtime — "Showtime Boxing" fans could access detailed fight
information including photos and videos, test their knowledge of the
boxers, and vote for the boxer they think will win the match.
-
HSN — Viewers watching HSN could directly purchase an item
highlighted on the live show and take advantage of specials of the
day, using their remote controls.
-
Ford — TV viewers watching a Lincoln commercial could find
local dealers, customize their dream cars, view Lincoln luxury
lifestyle videos, and more.
-
Mattel — Viewers of a Barbie® TV commercial could
take Barbie polls, play Barbie dress-up games, view Barbie documentary
videos, and more.
Yahoo! is working with Connected TV distribution partners including
Broadcom Corporation, D-Link, Haier, MediaTek, Sony and Toshiba to
enable the broadcast interactivity pilot on their devices in 2011.
TV apps on Yahoo! Connected TV
Today the Yahoo! Connected TV experience centers around a collection of
more than 100 easy-to-use TV apps, providing deep content designed to
complement TV viewing. TV apps run the gamut from social networking to
music, games, news, weather, finance, and shopping, and provide access
to more than 50,000 movies and TV shows on demand.
Traditional media and entertainment companies are developing some of the
most compelling new TV apps available on Yahoo! Connected TV. These
companies include CNBC, a recognized world leader in business news;
Clear Channel Radio, a leading radio company; NBC, a leading television
network; QVC, one of the largest multimedia retailers in the world; and
mgMedia, developer of technology for multi-device, worldwide movies on
demand distribution.
New media TV apps for the Yahoo! Connected TV platform include those
from Mediafly, Virtual Nerd, Screen Dreams, and more.
Yahoo! at 2011 International CES
A variety of product demonstrations will take place at the Yahoo! booth,
#36201, in South Hall 4, of the Las Vegas Convention Center. In addition
to showcasing the broadcast interactivity pilot, Yahoo! will demonstrate
the Yahoo! Connected TV Store, scheduled to launch in March 2011, and
interactive scenarios showcasing products that highlight Yahoo!'s
platforms and technologies, including:
-
Three-Screen Connected Device Interactivity — Experience
interactivity amongst tablets, mobile phones, and TVs. Demos will
showcase an Android phone used as a smart remote control for Yahoo!
Connected TV, a tablet device used in sync with an on-air program, and
the ability to "flick" videos from the tablet or phone to a big-screen
TV for shared viewing.
-
Yahoo! Mobile, Seamless Connectivity — Play with the newest
apps and mobile experiences that are bringing Yahoo!'s leading digital
media, content, and communications services to mobile phones and
tablet devices on a global scale. A new Flickr® app
for Windows Phones and Slate tablets will be showcased, alongside
other leading Yahoo! mobile experiences.
For additional information, search for "Yahoo! Connected TV" at yahoo.com.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) is an innovative technology company that operates
the largest digital media, content, and communications business in the
world. Yahoo! keeps more than half a billion consumers worldwide
connected to what matters to them most, and delivers powerful audience
solutions to advertisers through its unique combination of Science + Art
+ Scale. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more
information, visit the pressroom (pressroom.yahoo.com)
or the company's blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com).
Cautionary Note: This release contains forward-looking statements
(including without limitation the quotations from management) that
involve risks and uncertainties concerning the broadcast interactivity
pilot program as well as Yahoo!'s strategic and operational plans.
Actual events or results may differ materially from those described in
this release due to a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential
risks and uncertainties include, among others, the possibilities that
the pilot program might be delayed, might launch with fewer participants
than expected, or might not be successful, and that equipment
manufacturers, TV networks, app developers and consumers might be slow
to embrace the service offering or might favor rival platforms. More
information about potential factors that could affect Yahoo!'s business
and financial results is included under the captions, "Risk Factors" and
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations," in Yahoo!'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2009, as amended, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, which are on file with the SEC
and available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
Yahoo! is the trademark and/or registered trademark of Yahoo! Inc.
All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6563800&lang=en

Yahoo!
Karen Mahon, 408-349-4152
karenm@yahoo-inc.com
or
H&K
Whitney
Biltz, 415-281-7126
whitney.biltz@hillandknowlton.com
Source: Yahoo! Inc.
News Provided by Acquire Media
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