While Apple (NASDAQ:
AAPL
) is still in the (unconfirmed) planning stages of its first
television, Samsung continues to push ahead with the release of
new Smart TVs. Designed to provide users with an interactive
version of the traditional television experience, Smart TVs are
expected to be an important part of the industry's future.
Samsung is enlisting in the help of Yahoo (NASDAQ:
YHOO
) to ensure that future is complete with a wide array of
content.
"By combining watching TV with engaging content, we can change
the way audiences are entertained and informed," Ron Jacoby, vice
president of Connected TV at Yahoo, said in a
company release
. "We are thrilled that our expanded partnership with Samsung
extends our platform's footprint, enabling our content partners
and advertisers to reach many more consumers. Content owners can
augment their programming, and advertisers can create compelling
calls-to-action that allow audiences to engage on marketing
messages the moment they are delivered."
Showtime, the pay-TV network owned by CBS (NYSE:
CBS
), has already inked a deal with Yahoo. News Corp.'s (NASDAQ:
NWS
) National Geographic Channel is also on board with the new
venture.
Eric Anderson, vice president of content and product solutions
at Samsung Electronics America, Inc., added, "Today, consumers
are engaging in interactive TV program experiences more and more.
Samsung's SyncPlus service combined with Yahoo Broadcast
Interactivity and SoundPrint will provide consumers with a very
entertaining experience. We are very pleased to partner with
Yahoo and we look forward to a successful collaboration in the
years to come."
Before investors get too excited, it is important to
understand the type of content that might be coming to Samsung
televisions. According to the press release, "Samsung Smart TV
owners will receive real-time, actionable content that runs
alongside and complements TV shows and commercials. TV viewers
will see subtle, on-screen prompts informing them that additional
content can be accessed. With the touch of a remote, connected
tablet or phone, Samsung Smart TV viewers can easily surface
content or offers related to the TV shows and commercials they
are watching."
Since everything good on television comes with a price, Yahoo
also said that TV programmers "can provide complementary content
like trivia, additional show insights, commerce or interactive
gaming to extend engagement."
In other words, consumers will still have to subscribe to
Showtime to watch new episodes of Dexter. But they might get a
trivia game or two for free.
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@LouisBedigianBZ
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