Category Archives: NAB
It’s A Hit: Press Around Our New KIT Social Program Guide
We’ve been getting a lot of great press around our new Social Program Guide and wanted to share some highlights. Lost Remote, the white-hot Social TV site, was first out of the box with a lengthy article by lead writer Natan Edelsburg, who cited the ability to instantly see the which friends are watching which shows as his favorite feature. Beet.tv, whose Andy Plesser has made a name for himself as the tech world’s leading interviewer, filmed a great in-depth with KIT Global COO Alex Blum, where they discussed the social program guide and KIT near term roadmap. Mari Silbey reviewed the app for ZatzNotFunny, the ultimate TV industry insider blog. Silbey, formerly Chief Blogger at Motorola, was impressed by the SPG’s ability to provide unique accounts for each family members and the option to limit social activity to a companion second screen device. To see it in action, check out our demo video. For more details, visit our Social … Continue reading
Announcing The KIT Social Program Guide
Finally, after months of hard work and preparation, it’s here: the KIT Social Program Guide or SPG. What Is An SPG? It’s a Social Program Guide- a white label product that lays social functionality on top of a pay-TV provider’s EPG so that viewers can see what their friends are up to and then act on that information… by actually changing the channel or hitting “Record.” Hence “social” program guide. We’re emphasizing the program guide end of things because the genesis of this product is our belief that people rely heaviest on social data in the discovery phase – when they are figuring out what to watch. The KIT SPG lets them get input from a number of sources: friends, neighbors, all viewers, and critics. Chat– via Twitter, Facebook and other social networks, is enabled, but we have found that chat usage varies greatly depending on the type of show. That, and the presence of multiple chat options, makes this … Continue reading
NAB 2012: The Five Things You’ll Be Hearing About. (I Think.)
While NAB is due to start in about 12 hours, I wanted to do a quick rundown of the sorts of things we expect to be seeing there: 1. Social TV Apps: The Pets.com of 2012. Lots of VC money being thrown at any and every permutation of “social TV,” 99% of them suffer from two big problems: they don’t interact with each other and they don’t interact with the TV set. Anyone who solves those problems will be drawing huge crowds. 2. Ahhhhh! Netflix!!!: The astounding success of their streaming service caught everyone (including Reed Hastings) by surprise as it flew in the face of three things that used to be part of the Conventional Wisdom: (1) Consumers are giant technophobes who won’t try new technology until it’s neatly packaged and served up on a platter for them, (2) Consumers are only interested in seeing the latest hit movies and anyone who can’t offer that is dead in the … Continue reading
Evander Holyfield at the 2012 NAB Show
KIT digital is excited to announce that our newest customer, 5-time heavy weight champion Evander Holyfield, will be joining us at the 2012 NAB show. On April 17, Holyfield will be at the KIT digital booth (SU8505) for two official public appearances and a special after-hours media event. Holyfield will be helping to showcase the solution KIT has developed to better deliver and monetize video from his storied career. Holyfield will be available for photo-ops at 11AM PST and 2PM PST. For all media/analyst inquiries, or to sign up to meet Holyfield, please e-mail: Martin.Paul@KIT-digital.com
NAB For Newbies: Tips & Tricks
NAB can be a daunting experience for newcomers. To help, we put together this list of tips from some old NAB hands. At The Hotel Bring Cash – ATMs in Las Vegas tend to charge excessively high fees Travel in Packs – With mammoth taxi lines snaking around the LVCC, it can take hours of standing in the hot Vegas sun just to catch a ride back to your hotel. Grab 4-5 co-workers or friends and flag down a limo instead. (You can usually find them by the taxi line.) Splitting the fare lets you get to your destination with minimal cash and maximum style. Stay Hydrated – keep in mind that Las Vegas is in the middle of the desert. The air inside the show is very cool and dry and it’s often hot inside. Always carry water with you in your bag so you’re not walking around the show parched and grumpy. Be a Smarter Networker – Pack a … Continue reading
KIT digital Is Going Big at NAB 2012
The changes brought about by the convergence of the internet and television are bound to dominate the conversation at NAB this year, and KIT digital will be front and center during those discussions. From our booth at SU8505, we’ll be showcasing our latest product introductions, from our white label Social EPG product (the next generation of Social TV) to our enhanced partnerships with IBM. Stop by to say hello and hang out in our Living Room of the Future, where you can play with a live demo of our Social EPG, and check out what we’ve been building for BSkyB and other network operators. Keep your eyes open for a special surprise announcement during NAB that’s sure to be a knockout. To set up an appointment for a personalized private demo, email us at nab-rsvp@kitd.com