Civolution Brings Interactive Services to Leading French TV Broadcaster

EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands, February 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Gulli, a channel of major French media group Lagardère Active, adds a new dimension to its range of family programs

Civolution, the leading provider of technology and solutions for identifying, managing and monetizing content, today announces that the French media group Lagardère Active is using Civolution's SyncNow ACR technology to power an advanced interactive app for its free-to-air family TV channel, Gulli.

The app which is initially for use during the advertisement breaks will then be extended for use on the programs themselves. It will enhance the advertisements by enabling interactions such as games and original content about products. Once extended for use with some programs, the app will give users the chance to engage in games which relate directly to the content being aired on the main screen. Users will be able to take advantage of the new services on both smartphones and tablets.

"For the new generation of television viewers TV is no longer a lean-back experience. It is socially engaging entertainment," said Antoine Villeneuve, CEO of Lagardère Active's French and International TV channels. "We now have the opportunity to interact directly with our audience in ways that are much more personal and intimate. Civolution's SyncNow is exactly the type of technology needed to achieve this and go beyond simple linear."

The app will be driven by Civolution's powerful audio watermarking technology, SyncNow for 2^nd Screen, which enables real-time identification and frame accurate synchronization between broadcast, on-demand or recorded television content and interactive applications on companion devices (tablets, smart phones, laptops) to present compelling synchronized interactive user experiences including auto-check-in. The technology relies on imperceptible audio watermarks that can be embedded in live stream or as in the case of this project, in file content before playout.

"We've designed SyncNow to give broadcasters a more powerful interactive alternative to traditional red button type functionality," said Jean-Michel Masson, SVP Watermarking Solutions, Civolution. "With our ACR technology, broadcasters can give their viewers a range of interactive services across all types of programming without being restricted on whether it's live or on the PVR. We're really excited that Lagardère Active has chosen our technology for use in its app and we hope that its viewers are wowed by the new services they can now access."

About Civolution

Civolution (http://www.civolution.com) is the leading provider of technology and solutions to identify, manage and monetize media content. The company offers an extensive portfolio of cutting edge digital watermarking and fingerprinting applications for media interaction (accurate and real-time video synchronization for 2nd screen and smart TVs), media intelligence (audience measurement and media monitoring for television, radio and internet) and media protection (content filtering and forensic marking of media assets in pre-release, digital cinema, payTV and online). Follow us on Twitter: @Civolution.

About de Gulli : TV, Web, Applis, Tablette, Terrain: Gulli dares it all!

Gulli pull out all the stops with a website, replay TV, connected TV, mobile and tablet apps and more!

As France's leading free youth and family channel, Gulli draws an audience of both children and parents, with over 35.5 million viewers monthly. Since 2010, Gulli is France's best known channel in its category.

Today, in addition to the television channel, Gulli is a true family entertainment platform available on a wide variety of media, including digital (gulli.fr, Gulli Replay, connected TV applications, tablets and mobile phones, iTunes, etc.), with a full audio range, magazines, toys and field events. These various modes of expression offer the whole family a multitude of ways of experiencing the brand's values and communicative energy.

(source: Mediamat/Mediametrie, June 2012)

For more information:

Emmanuel Josserand
Civolution Director Marketing
Tel: +44(0)207-845-7371
[email protected]

Sally Douglas
Platform PR
Tel: +44(0)20-7486-4900
[email protected]

Mike Gyulai
Beck Media & Marketing
Tel: +1-310-300-4814
[email protected]

SOURCE Civolution