Hasta La Gadget!

Amazon only managed to land a slice of CBS’ library for Prime Instant Video on the first pass; it’s coming back for a second helping, including one of its first cracks at genuinely recent content from the network. A widened licensing deal gives subscribers access to further CBS and Showtime series that include Jericho, The L Word and an unspecified number of other shows. And for those intrigued by the broadcaster’s upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s Under the Dome, Amazon will be the only choice for many viewers: Prime Instant Video will be the exclusive home for subscription streaming and purchased downloads of the series, delivering streaming episodes about four days after their air date in order to shelter CBS’ traditional advertisers. Amazon may not have have completely locked in an audience between this and the Downton Abbey deal, but the recent set of exclusives is likely to leave Netflix feeling nervous.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Amazon

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Source: Amazon Instant Video

We’ve had mixed feelings about Yahoo’s Connected TV platform, but Samsung appears to think that its the next big thing. The two mega corporations announced a multi-year partnership on Monday that will bring the restructuring internet company’s interactive television software to Samsung’s 2012 lineup of smart TVs. Far from the traditional clunky Facebook and Twitter smart TV apps, Yahoo’s setup brings interactive content to the programming that you’re watching, such as trivia, program statistics and other types of playable games. You’ll also have the option to use your smartphone or tablet as a surrogate remote control to view and share additional interactive content. As promising as this may sound, our biggest concern here is that this feature also recognizes commercials and may offer additional advertisements on top of the ones that you’re already viewing. Programming partners currently include: Showtime and National Geographic, which makes us wonder what kind of ad suggestions will run during episodes of Dexter — knives, duct tape and plastic wrap, anyone?

Continue reading Yahoo and Samsung announce multi-year interactive TV partnership

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, HD, Samsung

Yahoo and Samsung announce multi-year interactive TV partnership originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Nov 2012 22:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With its season premieres of Dexter and Homeland (trailers are embedded after the break) on deck for next Sunday evening, Showtime has refashioned its second screen iPad app in version 2.0 and even changed the name to reflect new features. Now dubbed Showtime Sync, it follows other network branded apps (AMC, MTV, NBC and Syfy come to mind) by focusing on pushing relevant content, viewer polls and the like to the tablet while the show plays. It syncs up automatically from the show’s audio, which should make things simple when watching via DVR, VOD and even DVD / Blu-ray or streaming (could you have Showtime Anytime streaming on one tablet synced to another one?), while promising lots of photos plus behind the scenes content when the episode ends. Hit the source link to grab the free app, how you come by the episodes you’ll have to figure out on your own.

Continue reading Showtime’s second screen iPad app hits 2.0, goes from Social to Sync

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Tablets, HD

Showtime’s second screen iPad app hits 2.0, goes from Social to Sync originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Sep 2012 15:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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