Why You Should Consider Developing an Internet TV Widget
Internet TV widgets have major revenue implications for businesses as the technology is positioned to become the new social norm in media. TV widgets combine everything you love to access on the Web with everything you love about your TV. Like miniature applications for your computer or Smartphone, widgets dock on the side, bottom or in the background of your television screen. They allow viewers to watch movies on-demand, browse the Internet for past TV shows, shop, play games, listen to music, make status updates, share photos, videos and more.As web-enabled televisions go mainstream, Internet applications for your TV will emerge from the technology seams. From Wi-Fi capable flat-screens, to Roku, Yahoo and Google TV, televisions are becoming increasingly social. Social media continues to weave its way into business marketing plans and budgets, Smartphones and even your parents' free time. The big players are on board (Facebook, Twitter, Pandora, Netflix, eBay, etc.) and the campaigning has begun. Now is the time to consider whether developing an Internet TV widget is a smart move for you or your company.
Consider the basics
TV widgets are currently available on Sony, Samsung, Vizio, LG and Toshiba TVs. A few major Internet TV providers include Yahoo Connect, Google TV, Roku, Apple TV, Orb TV and Boxee Box. Still in the beginning stages of widget development, many boxes including Google TV have been blocked by major network channels. This will likely change as more competition enters the development realm and consumers begin to widely adopt the technology. There are 41 widgets available for Yahoo television including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pandora, Flickr, YouTube, Netflix, NFL Fantasy Football, and eBay. TV widgets have three basic views available to build from: snippet, sidebar, and full screen.
Internet TV: A New Media Experience
In an article written by PC World (a) at the initial introduction of the technology, Michael Greeson, President of the research firm The Diffusion Group, stated that "most people see widgets as a way to enhance their TV viewing experience, not simply as another way to access the Internet." As Greeson puts it, "Nobody wants just a browser experience." Nobody wants the Internet just dumped on the TV." TV is already such an integral part of consumers' lives and the Internet continues to gain ground in consuming the free time of individuals around the world. Combing the two is actually a quite natural marriage and ultimately provides consumers with the golden ticket: more choices.
With a simple interface design and user-friendly navigation, businesses and advertisers will have increased opportunity for prospects to interact with brands and open doors for more online transactions. Internet on demand is clearly a major player in supplementing the TV viewing experience. Similar to the Smartphone marketplace, however, the potential of Internet TV lies in the hands of widget developers. The iPhone without apps is not an iPhone at all. Similarly, Internet TV widgets hold the power to make this technology amazing.
TBN Internet TV Widget
America's largest religious television network and most watched faith channel TBN has partnered with Trinet Internet Solutions, Inc. to create a custom widget available on Yahoo Connect and Roku television. Viewers and fans can access superior quality streaming for 7 live television channels, 24 hours per day, 7 days a week with EDGE, 3G, or Wi-Fi. The stunning Roku application features award-winning programming, children's TV shows, music videos and much more. As one of the first forty widgets to be created for Yahoo, TBN is reaching out to its current audience and new viewers alike through Internet TV.
Look for an Internet TV Widget Developer Who Has Experience
Developing an Internet TV widget will put your organization at the forefront of technological innovation and provide immense opportunity for both brand exposure and increased online transactions. In determining whether or not an Internet TV widget is right for your company, consider your options, weigh the risk, evaluate the potential ROI and talk to an expert. Developers are a dime a dozen. Consider investing in a strategy that will not only produce a fantastic product, but bring about the traffic and ultimately revenues to bring you to the top!
As an award-winning Web firm and approved Yahoo Widget Developer, Trinet Internet Solutions, Inc. can provide strategy, architecture, design and development of a TV widget that integrates your company's content, audio, video, ecommerce and more. Trinet developed one of the first forty TV widgets on the Yahoo Widget market and continues to push the envelope of innovation and technology. Our expert team of developers and programmers love what they do and value products and services that enable our clients to succeed! With over 50 employees and locations in Orange County, California and Washington, D.C., Trinet Internet Solutions, Inc. is ready to assist you with all your web design needs and Internet marketing initiatives.
Contact Trinet Internet Solutions, Inc. today at 949.442.8900 or send an email to contactus@trinetsolutions.com with any questions you might have related to web design, web development, TV widget and mobile application development, online marketing, search engine optimization, social media optimization, email marketing, blogging, PPC campaigns, or anything else related to the online branding of your company's web properties.
(a) Source: March 2009, http://www.pcworld.com/article/162000/yahoos_tv_widgets_service_tries_to_bridge_the_webtv_divide.html
