This is not meant to start an "E* is better than D* (or vice versa) war. Just asking about former functionality and "new" functionality...
I am a D* sub, but I do like to see what others are doing so I subscribe to the E* Press Release feed and get occasional updates on their service. This morning I got an email announcing a partnership with NBC/Universal to add interactive functionality to ads on all of NBC's networks. This is something that D* used to have with the Tivo units. Is this still an option, or did it die with the Tivo divorce? I kind of liked the idea of clicking the "Thumbs Up" button during some commercials to get more info, whether it was product related or announcing an upcoming show where pressing the Thumbs Up button allowed you to go ahead and add that advertised program to your WishList/SeasonPass list. :up
In case you're curious, here is the content of the press release:
NBC Universal Partners With DISH Network to Expand Interactive Advertising Footprint
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. and NEW YORK, May 20, 2008 (PrimeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- DISH Network Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH), the nation's third largest pay-TV provider and the digital transition leader, and NBC Universal today announced an agreement to provide interactive trigger capabilities to NBC Universal's 14 television networks and 10 NBC owned-and-operated TV stations. DISH Network(r) subscribers who have a digital video recorder (DVR) will be able to use their remote controls to request more information from advertisers about their products or to receive coupons for various product discounts.
The announcement was made today by Michael Finn, Vice President of Advertising Sales for DISH Network, and Mike Pilot, President of Sales and Marketing for NBC Universal.
"Our agreement with DISH Network is part of NBCU's ongoing initiative to make television advertising more effective and provide better accountability for our clients' media investments," said Pilot. "With this deal, we're extending our ability to provide RFI capability to any commercial on any NBCU network -- an important step and a unique capability in the market as we work with our clients to better understand and adapt to the new ways consumers are watching television."
"Bringing the capabilities and national reach of DISH Network's interactive TV platform to the network level with NBC Universal brings national advertisers the scale and return-on-investment that they have been searching for," said Finn. "Inserting on-screen triggers in the full suite of NBCU networks allows viewers the ability to interact with an advertiser's brand and request more information -- a powerful proposition that we know to be valuable to both advertisers and viewers."
As part of the agreement, NBC Universal will offer the ability to purchase advertisements with interactive trigger capabilities as a way to enhance their campaigns on NBC broadcasts delivered through DISH Network's satellite service. The interactive triggers allow viewers to select an icon displayed during a commercial that will take them to a page to obtain more information about the advertiser. When finished, viewers are returned to their programming at the exact place they exited. The advertiser information page may contain details about a product, service or more. NBC will also be able to provide advertisers with detailed reports about viewer participation with DISH Network's interactive products. Both DISH Network and NBC Universal will also continue to work together to develop new interactive products to serve future clients.
DISH Network subscribers with DVRs are able to view this interactive functionality. DISH Network's latest award-winning HD DVR, the ViP722, is a dual-tuner receiver that can record up to 500 hours of programming, more than any other DVR on the market. The ViP722 operates two televisions, one in HD and the other in standard definition, allowing customers to view programming from the receiver in separate rooms at the same time.
I am a D* sub, but I do like to see what others are doing so I subscribe to the E* Press Release feed and get occasional updates on their service. This morning I got an email announcing a partnership with NBC/Universal to add interactive functionality to ads on all of NBC's networks. This is something that D* used to have with the Tivo units. Is this still an option, or did it die with the Tivo divorce? I kind of liked the idea of clicking the "Thumbs Up" button during some commercials to get more info, whether it was product related or announcing an upcoming show where pressing the Thumbs Up button allowed you to go ahead and add that advertised program to your WishList/SeasonPass list. :up
In case you're curious, here is the content of the press release:
NBC Universal Partners With DISH Network to Expand Interactive Advertising Footprint
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. and NEW YORK, May 20, 2008 (PrimeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- DISH Network Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH), the nation's third largest pay-TV provider and the digital transition leader, and NBC Universal today announced an agreement to provide interactive trigger capabilities to NBC Universal's 14 television networks and 10 NBC owned-and-operated TV stations. DISH Network(r) subscribers who have a digital video recorder (DVR) will be able to use their remote controls to request more information from advertisers about their products or to receive coupons for various product discounts.
The announcement was made today by Michael Finn, Vice President of Advertising Sales for DISH Network, and Mike Pilot, President of Sales and Marketing for NBC Universal.
"Our agreement with DISH Network is part of NBCU's ongoing initiative to make television advertising more effective and provide better accountability for our clients' media investments," said Pilot. "With this deal, we're extending our ability to provide RFI capability to any commercial on any NBCU network -- an important step and a unique capability in the market as we work with our clients to better understand and adapt to the new ways consumers are watching television."
"Bringing the capabilities and national reach of DISH Network's interactive TV platform to the network level with NBC Universal brings national advertisers the scale and return-on-investment that they have been searching for," said Finn. "Inserting on-screen triggers in the full suite of NBCU networks allows viewers the ability to interact with an advertiser's brand and request more information -- a powerful proposition that we know to be valuable to both advertisers and viewers."
As part of the agreement, NBC Universal will offer the ability to purchase advertisements with interactive trigger capabilities as a way to enhance their campaigns on NBC broadcasts delivered through DISH Network's satellite service. The interactive triggers allow viewers to select an icon displayed during a commercial that will take them to a page to obtain more information about the advertiser. When finished, viewers are returned to their programming at the exact place they exited. The advertiser information page may contain details about a product, service or more. NBC will also be able to provide advertisers with detailed reports about viewer participation with DISH Network's interactive products. Both DISH Network and NBC Universal will also continue to work together to develop new interactive products to serve future clients.
DISH Network subscribers with DVRs are able to view this interactive functionality. DISH Network's latest award-winning HD DVR, the ViP722, is a dual-tuner receiver that can record up to 500 hours of programming, more than any other DVR on the market. The ViP722 operates two televisions, one in HD and the other in standard definition, allowing customers to view programming from the receiver in separate rooms at the same time.
