June 14, 2010

Interactive Video Software Part of Fox Website

Video is becoming so important on the Web that it's usurping text. Not only are Web users watching more video, but companies are coming up with innovative ways to accentuate pictures and voice.

At CableLabs' Winter Conference in February, participating cable operators selected Jinni as the winner of its Innovation Showcase. Jinni does mood-based search, meaning viewers can search for premium video content based on such moods as “funny,” “inspirational” or “suspenseful."

Explaining Jinni’s search technology, CEO Mike Pohl said, “We’re crawling for emotions; Google’s crawling for words.” (For more on Jinni).

Now, another company has announced a new twist on Web video.

Coincident TV has announced a deal with Fox Broadcasting to use Coincident's interactive video technology in online episodes of Fox's show "Glee."

"Instead of building a Web page where you build a box and drop video into it, we've turned it on its head and start with video," said Craig Barberich, VP/marketing with Coincident TV. "On top of the video, we overlay links to different types of experiences. The video becomes the base of the experience upon which you're building."

Powered by Coincident TV’s interactive video software suite, Fox's Glee Superfan site allows viewers to watch full-length episodes online at fox.com/glee while they simultaneously navigate the Web, access "Glee" social media sites, purchase related merchandise and watch bonus material.

Coincident's software is based on its Cue Point Language (CPL), which works by inserting markers - called cue points - into video files. Cue points can be used for everything from jumping to ancillary video to sending SMS text messages, according to Coincident's website.

"It fundamentally allows anyone to leap forward in terms of capabilities they can do, moving the world from a text-based Web to a video Web," said Barberich, adding Coincident's software is independent of HTML5 or Flash. The software also can enhance online video on a variety of platforms, including content on popular video hosting sites like YouTube, Blip.tv, thePlatform or Brightcove. 

In a demonstration, Alex Beckman, VP/video production at Coincident TV, showed how various links are overlayed on the "Glee" video. While the show plays, the links automatically are customized based on what's happening in the video.

"Each show has from 12 to 25 updates," said Beckman. "You don't need to use your mouse; (updates are) fed to you as you watch the show."

And if a viewer clicks away from the "Glee" site and then wants to return, the software delivers viewers back to the point where they left the video.

-Linda Hardesty