Fox Broadcasting Selects Watchwith as Sync-to-Broadcast Content Management System Partner

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Watchwith®, the leader in related content syndication, today announced its partnership with Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) to power a new, first-of-its-kind syndication network that will distribute FOX’s custom sync-to-broadcast experiences – currently available exclusively on its FOX NOW app -- to other second-screen TV app providers. The new service allows FOX partners to take advantage of FOX’s high-quality companion content and ensures that fans can enjoy a premium, cohesive FOX digital content and advertising experience across multiple TV apps and platforms. Earlier today FOX announced their new digital content syndication network launch partners, Shazam®, Viggle℠, ConnecTV and NextGuide, will feature FOX NOW sync-to-broadcast content within their multi-platform environments.

“Just like in the broadcast business, where the programmers create the content and service providers deliver the eyeballs, Watchwith’s role with FOX enables NextGuide to innovate on the consumer experience and deliver the eyeballs to FOX.”

This partnership heralds the beginning of the next generation of second-screen TV business and signifies FOX’s industry-leading recognition of the need for content owners to create, syndicate, and monetize value added sync-to-broadcast programming for the second-screen and beyond. FOX’s sync-to-broadcast initiative takes the second-screen experience beyond social TV, and digital content syndication via Watchwith provides a clear path to scale on the second-screen for FOX and their partners.

“FOX is opening up new beachfront property on the second-screen for their most popular shows.” said Zane Vella, Watchwith CEO, “this groundbreaking FOX agreement, in addition to our long term platform-as-a-service agreements with NBC, USA Network, Bravo, and Syfy, signals an important step toward an industry standard solution for both programmers and advertisers.”

“Watchwith provides FOX with exactly what we’re looking for as a leading content rights holder: a platform for easy syndication of our companion content that allows us to retain ownership and control of the distribution,” said Hardie Tankersley, Vice President, Platforms & Innovation, Fox Broadcasting Company.

“Just like in the broadcast business, where the programmers create the content and service providers deliver the eyeballs, Watchwith’s role with FOX enables NextGuide to innovate on the consumer experience and deliver the eyeballs to FOX.” said Jeremy Toeman, CEO of Dijit Media.

“The success of SocialTV is about making it simple for programmers and brands to engage their consumers in innovative ways - creating a “gotta have it” experience for television viewers.” said Stacy Jolna, Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer at ConnecTV. “This unique collaboration between ConnecTV, Fox and Watchwith is a critical beginning as we forge the future of television together.”

About Watchwith

Watchwith, the leader in related content syndication, unlocks value across the entertainment industry by transforming how people experience film and television. Watchwith gives content owners and app developers a way to realize new value by creating an engaging layer of time- based related content events, one-click commerce, and contextual advertising around film, television programming and commercials. Watchwith also provides business rules-based syndication of the related content experience to smartphones, tablets, connected TVs, game consoles and OTT set-top boxes. Powered by the Related Content Database™, Watchwith enables content owners to create new licensable related content properties that will generate profits across media far into the future. Watchwith is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. For more information visit watchwith.com.

About Fox Broadcasting Company

Fox Broadcasting Company is a unit of News Corporation. FOX finished the 2011-2012 season at No. 1 in the key adult demographic for the eighth consecutive year – a feat that has never been achieved in broadcast history – while continuing to dominate all network competition in the more targeted Adults 18-34 and Teen demographics. FOX airs 15 hours of primetime programming a week as well as late-night entertainment programming, major sports and Sunday morning news.

NOTE: Watchwith is a registered trademark of Related Content Database, Inc. Watchwith Platform and Related Content Database are trademarks of Related Content Database, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.