- Online
- Mobile
ITV.com announces the launch of ITV Live for the FIFA 2010 World Cup
Exclusive new ways for viewers to interact with ITV programmes on the web
ITV today announced the launch of a brand new dual-screen initiative from ITV.com - ITV Live. Launching in time for this summer’s World Cup 2010, ITV Live is an exclusive live online companion for fans who want to make the most of their World Cup 2010 viewing experience with ITV.
ITV Live builds on the growing trend of enjoying the action on the big screen while interacting online to the next level. During each match the ITV Live experience can be customised, allowing each individual user to take their pick of which interactive tools they use to enhance their viewing experience, including real-time game and player statistics.
Hosted at ITV.com, ITV Live combines action replays, real-time statistics, voting tools and instant comments from fans and experts, with live video all, in one online hub. Users can select from a range of tools including event highlights; statistics -provided by OPTA; voting, polls and chat with the option of sharing their comments via Facebook. ITV Live will also offer live match streaming and a range of action replays from multiple camera angles.
Built and designed in partnership with live social TV specialists Monterosa, ITV Live is fully ad-funded and free to access.
Ben McOwen Wilson, Director of Online and Interactive, ITV said: “Dual-screen has been a priority for ITV.com over the last 12 months and ITV Live is the exciting result of our exploration into how our users want to interact with big events simultaneously on the television and online. This is a real first and we are very proud that ITV is taking interactivity to a whole new level this summer. We think the ITV Live experience will not only be the definitive real-time experience of World Cup 2010 but also a platform that we plan to build on for all the live ITV television events for the future.”
Also this summer www.itv.com/fifaworldcup will simulcast all of the ITV games as well as highlights from every match of the 2010 World Cup. In addition all World Cup 2010 games will be available in ITV Player for viewers to catch up on action they miss from the tournament. The site will also feature daily podcasts from the ITV World Cup team in South Africa, video blogs, press conference clips and post-match interviews. Player profiles will be available and a brand new viral game Free-Kick Frenzy, voiced by Clive Tyldesley, will allow players to take part in a free kick competition for either England or Brazil and share their scores with their friends via Facebook.
iPhone users will also be able to download the free ITV World Cup iPhone app for catching up with the World Cup on the move. The app will feature news, match highlights and TV Guide, links to a full simulcast of the matches on ITV’s brand new iPhone live mobile streaming service plus daily World Cup Podcasts and a tournament guide.
Behind the red button ITV will launch World Cup Extra – a video stream with daily news bulletins, produced by ITN productions, plus interview and comment from the ITV Camp.
ITV Live comment services will also be available via the red button with viewers able to press red to view live comments from the ITV Live website whilst watching the games. Viewers will also be able to get involved by texting in their comments. There will also be some fantastic prizes from ITV World Cup 2010 joint sponsors Lucozade and Hyundai available via red button promotions.
ITV Launches Simulcast Streaming Service for iPhone
ITV1 & ITV2 content, plus 2010 FIFA World Cup action delivered via ITV web app
ITV today announced the launch of its simulcast streaming service of ITV1 and ITV2 for the iPhone. The free, ad-funded web app, accessed via the web browser at www.itv.com/watchITV/iphone, will stream all ITV’s content* from ITV1 and ITV2, via 3G and wifi technology, and can be displayed as an ITV brand icon on the iPhone desktop. The ITV web app goes live on 11 June, 2010, in time for the kick off of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
In addition to ongoing streaming of ITV1 and ITV2 on iPhone, the ITV web app, will allow football fans to watch matches from this year’s World Cup on the move. The initiative marks the first time any UK broadcaster has televised the tournament on the iPhone. All the games to be broadcast on ITV1, and further matches to be broadcast on ITV4, will be available to view via iPhone.
Developed with Red Bee Media, the ITV web app will be monetised through pre-roll advertising as well as by clickable horizontal banners. The advertising for the launch of the ITV web app, and for its first three months, has been exclusively negotiated by Mediacom and M4C. And as well as screening the latest football action, the ITV web app will also include schedule information, provided by Red Bee Media’s broadcast data services.
Ben McOwen Wilson, Director of Online and Interactive at ITV, said: “Our aim at ITV is to make our content available when and where our viewers want to watch it. The ITV web app will enable iPhone users to find and watch their favourite ITV content, on the go and with this year’s World Cup fast approaching, iPhone football fans now have a new way to watch with the latest action.
“As the only UK broadcaster to screen the World Cup on mobile, this application offers advertisers a dynamic way to interact with viewers and puts ITV at the forefront of mobile VOD.”
Alan Wright, Chief Commercial Officer, Red Bee Media, adds: “The ITV web app is a compelling offering that, using our sophisticated metadata platform, Teleview, provides ITV viewers with a much richer, branded service than other video streaming options. The delivery of the ITV web app, in time for the World Cup, has brought together our creative, data and media management services and perfectly demonstrates Red Bee Media expertise in executing a multiplatform strategy.”