HBO, NBC and Comcast Turn to Zeebox to Power Second Screens

By Rob Scott
September 28, 2012

NBCUniversal, Comcast and HBO announced partnerships with Zeebox yesterday, a second screen app designed to augment the TV viewing experience.
NBC and Comcast join British Sky Broadcasting as investors in the startup, which launched in the UK last January and is now available as an Android, iOS and Web app here in the States.
The free app acts as a program guide that lets users know which shows are being viewed or discussed by friends. It also features Facebook and Twitter integration. Broadcasters can create a digital hub for programs that includes videos, games, polls, chatrooms and more.
“Like Shazam, it will extend its second screen experience to advertisements. Unlike Shazam, it will share revenue from enhanced commercials with all broadcasters,” reports Fast Company. “Adding a mobile component to a commercial can nudge consumers toward action (think ‘buy this now’ buttons) in a way that television ads can’t.”
For consumers, Zeebox replaces GetGlue as a means of sharing what you’re watching with friends — and replaces Google when you are searching for info about celebrities.
“Zeebox isn’t the most appealing second-screen product we’ve seen — it seems more like a mishmash of everything anyone could ever want to do in front of a television rather than a solution to a specific problem or desire — but by appeasing broadcasters, it has set itself up to be among the most popular,” notes the article.

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